Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 29
पदानि त्रीणि दत्तानि भूमेर्मह्यं त्वयासुर । द्वाभ्यां क्रान्ता मही सर्वा तृतीयमुपकल्पय ॥ २९ ॥
padāni trīṇi dattāni bhūmer mahyaṁ tvayāsura dvābhyāṁ krāntā mahī sarvā tṛtīyam upakalpaya
Wahai raja para asura, engkau telah berjanji memberi-Ku tiga langkah tanah. Dengan dua langkah Aku telah meliputi seluruh alam; kini pikirkan, di mana harus Kutaruh langkah-Ku yang ketiga.
FAQs
This verse shows that after Bali granted three steps, Vāmana expanded and covered everything with two steps, leaving no space for the third—revealing the Lord’s supremacy and the devotee’s test of integrity.
Vāmana reminds Bali of his promise and asks him to fulfill the third step, bringing Bali to the crucial moment of surrender—offering himself when no external land remains.
Keep commitments even under pressure, and when ego-based “ownership” collapses, choose humility and surrender to dharma and God rather than dishonor or excuses.