Shloka 16
“उन्होंने ही ब्राह्मणवेषमें वामनरूप धारण करके अपने तीन पगोंद्वारा जिस प्रकार छिपे तौरपर राजा बलिका राज्य हर लिया था, वह सब तो तुमने सुना ही होगा ।। हुताशनेन यच्चाप: प्रविश्यच्छन्नमासता । विबुधानां कृतं कर्म तच्च सर्व श्रुतं त्वया,'अग्निने जलमें प्रवेश करके वहीं छिपे रहकर देवताओंका कार्य जिस प्रकार सिद्ध किया, वह सब कुछ भी तुम सुन चुके हो
hutāśanena yac cāpaḥ praviśyac channam āsatā | vibudhānāṃ kṛtaṃ karma tac ca sarvaṃ śrutaṃ tvayā ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: You have already heard how Agni, entering the waters and remaining concealed there, accomplished the work of the gods. In the same way, you know the earlier deed in which the Lord, assuming the guise of a dwarf brāhmaṇa, subtly took away King Bali’s dominion with three strides—acts that show how divine purpose is fulfilled through strategy, disguise, and timely action rather than open force alone.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights that dharma and cosmic order may be upheld through intelligent, concealed action when direct confrontation is unsuitable; divine agents sometimes employ disguise or secrecy to accomplish a righteous purpose.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reminds the listener of well-known precedents: Agni once entered the waters and stayed hidden to carry out the gods’ task, and similarly Vāmana, in brāhmaṇa-dwarf form, took Bali’s kingdom with three strides—examples invoked to frame the current discussion through familiar mythic analogies.