Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 9

Brahmā Worships Vāmana; the Demons Attack; Bali is Bound and Questioned About the Third Step

Devanagari script

महीं सर्वां हृतां द‍ृष्ट्वा त्रिपदव्याजयाच्ञया । ऊचु: स्वभर्तुरसुरा दीक्षितस्यात्यमर्षिता: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

mahīṁ sarvāṁ hṛtāṁ dṛṣṭvā tripada-vyāja-yācñayā ūcuḥ sva-bhartur asurā dīkṣitasyātyamarṣitāḥ

Translation

Когда демонические последователи Махараджи Бали увидели, что их владыка, принявший дикшу и твердый в совершении жертвоприношения, лишился всех владений, ибо Ваманадева отнял их под предлогом просьбы о трех шагах земли, они пришли в ярость и сказали следующее.

Synonyms

• mahīm: the earth
• mahīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sarvām: entire/all
• sarvām: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• hṛtām: taken away/seized
• hṛtām: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (kta), Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Purvakala-kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Gerund (ktvā-pratyaya)

• tripada-vyāja-yācñayā: by the request which was a trick of three steps
• tripada-vyāja-yācñayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripada-vyāja-yācñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ūcuḥ: they spoke
• ūcuḥ: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Plural

• sva-bhartuḥ: of their own master
• sva-bhartuḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• asurāḥ: the demons
• asurāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• dīkṣitasya: of the initiated one (Bali)
• dīkṣitasya: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīkṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ati-amarṣitāḥ: very angry/intolerant
• ati-amarṣitāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atyamarṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Characters & Entities

• Bali Mahārāja
• Vāmana (Lord Viṣṇu)
• Asuras (followers of Bali)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vāmana asking for three steps of land?

This verse highlights that Vāmana’s “three steps” request was a divine stratagem by which Bali’s entire realm was taken back, revealing the Lord’s supreme ownership over all worlds.

Why were the asuras angry with Bali Mahārāja in the Vāmana story?

They saw that Bali’s possessions were being lost due to the three-steps request, and, being attached to power and territory, they became enraged and protested against their own master.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

It teaches that worldly allies may turn against dharmic decisions when material loss is involved, so one should hold firmly to truth, vows, and devotion rather than fear criticism.