Shloka 34
Bali Mahārāja Upholds Truth; Vāmana Reveals the Universal Form and Takes the Two Steps
पदं द्वितीयं क्रमतस्त्रिविष्टपं न वै तृतीयाय तदीयमण्वपि । उरुक्रमस्याङ्घ्रिरुपर्युपर्यथो महर्जनाभ्यां तपस: परं गत: ॥ ३४ ॥
padaṁ dvitīyaṁ kramatas triviṣṭapaṁ na vai tṛtīyāya tadīyam aṇv api urukramasyāṅghrir upary upary atho mahar-janābhyāṁ tapasaḥ paraṁ gataḥ
द्वितीयं पदं क्रमतः त्रिविष्टपं व्याप्तवान्; तृतीयाय तदीयमण्वपि नास्थात्। उरुक्रमस्याङ्घ्रिः ऊर्ध्वमूर्ध्वं प्रसृतः, महर्जनतपोऽपि परं गतः॥
When the Lord’s footstep exceeded the height of all the lokas, including Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka, His nails certainly pierced the covering of the universe. The universe is covered by the five material elements ( bhūmir āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ kham ). As stated in the śāstra, these elements are in layers, each ten times thicker than the previous one. Nonetheless, the nails of the Lord pierced through all these layers and made a hole penetrating into the spiritual world. From this hole, the water of the Ganges infiltrated into this material world, and therefore it is said, pada-nakha-nīra janita jana-pāvana ( Daśāvatāra-stotra 5). Because the Lord kicked a hole in the covering of the universe, the water of the Ganges came into this material world to deliver all the fallen souls.
FAQs
It says that with His second step the Lord covered Svarga, and for the third step no space remained, so His foot rose beyond Maharloka and Janaloka to the supreme realm.
Because He performs ‘uru-krama’—vast, extraordinary strides—most famously shown when Vāmana expanded as Trivikrama and covered the worlds in a few steps.
It teaches humility and surrender: the Supreme is unlimited, so real security comes from devotion and offering one’s limited possessions and ego back to Him.