Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 21
सिद्धाश्रम-प्रसङ्गः
Siddhashrama and the Vāmana Narrative
त्रीन् क्रमानथ भिक्षित्वा प्रतिगृह्य च मानद:।आक्रम्य लोकान् लोकात्मा सर्वभूतहिते रत:।।1.29.20।।महेन्द्राय पुन: प्रादान्नियम्य बलिमोजसा।त्रैलोक्यं स महातेजाश्चक्रे शक्रवशं पुन:।।1.29.21।।
trīn kramān atha bhikṣitvā pratigṛhya ca mānadaḥ | ākramya lokān lokātmā sarvabhūtahite rataḥ || 1.29.20 ||
mahendrāya punaḥ prādān niyamya balim ojasā | trailokyaṃ sa mahātejāś cakre śakravaśaṃ punaḥ || 1.29.21 ||
ततः मानदः लोकात्मा सर्वभूतहिते रतः त्रीन् क्रमान् भिक्षित्वा प्रतिगृह्य लोकान् आक्रम्य। ततः महातेजाः ओजसा बलिं नियम्य त्रैलोक्यं पुनर्महेन्द्राय प्रादात्, शक्रवशं चकार।
"O mighty-armed Rama! Lord Visnu, the foremost among the gods, and master the great ascetic lived here carrying out yogic practices and penance for innumerable years constituting hundreds of yugas.
FAQs
Legitimate authority is restored for the common good: power is exercised not for domination but to re-establish rightful order and protect all beings.
The Vāmana episode culminates: Viṣṇu takes three strides to encompass the worlds, subdues Bali, and returns sovereignty of the three worlds to Indra.
Loka-hita (universal welfare): governance and divine power are justified by their service to the well-being of all living beings.