Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 20
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi and the Lord’s Unlimited Incarnations
देवासुरे युधि च दैत्यपतीन् सुरार्थे हत्वान्तरेषु भुवनान्यदधात् कलाभि: । भूत्वाथ वामन इमामहरद् बले: क्ष्मां याच्ञाच्छलेन समदाददिते: सुतेभ्य: ॥ २० ॥
devāsure yudhi ca daitya-patīn surārthe hatvāntareṣu bhuvanāny adadhāt kalābhiḥ bhūtvātha vāmana imām aharad baleḥ kṣmāṁ yācñā-cchalena samadād aditeḥ sutebhyaḥ
天神と阿修羅の戦いにおいて、至上主はその機会を用い、天神のために阿修羅の首領を討ち、各マヌ期ごとに多様な化身によって諸世界を護持される。さらに主はヴァーマナとして現れ、バリ・マハーラージャに三歩の土地を乞い、その乞いの方便によって全地を取り上げ、のちに全世界をアディティの子らへ返された。
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord became Vāmana and, by the strategy of asking for charity, reclaimed the earth from Bali and returned it to Aditi’s sons, restoring the rightful order.
The verse highlights divine strategy: by a humble request, the Lord accomplished cosmic restoration while simultaneously revealing Bali’s virtue and the Lord’s supremacy without relying on brute force.
It teaches that dharma can be protected through wisdom and humility, and that apparent reversals in power can serve a higher purpose when aligned with the Divine will.