Shloka 17

Vamana's Three Steps — Vamana’s Three Steps and the Binding of Bali

Devanagari script

इत्येवमुक्ते वचने वामनेन महासुरः बलिर्भृङ्गारमादाय ददौ विष्णोः क्रमत्रयम्

Transliteration

ityevamukte vacane vāmanena mahāsuraḥ balirbhṛṅgāramādāya dadau viṣṇoḥ kramatrayam

Translation

When Vāmana had spoken thus, the great Asura Bali, taking up a water-vessel (for the gift-rite), granted to Viṣṇu the three strides (the three paces of land).

Speakers

• Narrator voice describing Bali’s act in response to Vāmana

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Bali

Key Themes

• Ritual legality of dāna (udaka-dāna)
• Bali’s satya (truthfulness) and generosity
• Turning-point from human-scale gift to cosmic event

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why is the bhṛṅgāra (water-vessel) mentioned?

In classical dāna procedure, the donor confirms the gift by pouring water (udaka) from a vessel into the recipient’s hand. Mentioning the bhṛṅgāra signals that Bali’s grant is ritually valid and binding, not merely verbal.

Does ‘krama-traya’ already mean the cosmic ‘three worlds’?

Here it is the promised ‘three paces’ as a measured grant. The narrative intentionally uses language that will expand in the next verses: the ‘three paces’ become the three cosmic strides of Trivikrama, encompassing the worlds.

Is any tīrtha or place-name embedded in this act?

No explicit sacred geography appears in this śloka; it is a ritual-action verse centered on the donation rite.