Shloka 19

Avatāra-kathā — The Puruṣa, the Many Incarnations, and Kṛṣṇa as Svayam Bhagavān

Devanagari script

पञ्चदशं वामनकं कृत्वागादध्वरं बले: । पदत्रयं याचमान: प्रत्यादित्सुस्त्रिपिष्टपम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam

Translation

పదిహేనవ అవతారంలో భగవాన్ వామన బ్రాహ్మణరూపం ధరించి మహారాజ బలిచే నిర్వహింపబడిన యజ్ఞమండపానికి వెళ్లెను. త్రిలోక రాజ్యాన్ని తిరిగి పొందదలచినప్పటికీ ఆయన కేవలం మూడు అడుగుల భూమిని దానంగా యాచించెను.

Synonyms

• pañcadaśam: the fifteenth
• pañcadaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcadaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ordinal/number-adjective qualifying avatāram (understood)

• vāmanakam: Vāmana (the dwarf incarnation)
• vāmanakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtvā: having assumed (that form)
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having done/made/assumed’

• agāt: went
• agāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• adhvaram: to the sacrifice
• adhvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• baleḥ: of Bali
• baleḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pada-trayam: three steps
• pada-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘three (traya) steps (pada)’

• yācamānaḥ: requesting
• yācamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yāc (याच् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pratyāditsuḥ: wishing to take back/restore
• pratyāditsuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ā-dā (प्रति+आ+दा धातु)
• Form: Desiderative participle (सन्नन्त; ‘to wish to take back’), suffix -su (सुः), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tri-piṣṭapam: the threefold heaven (Svarga)
• tri-piṣṭapam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + piṣṭapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘three-tiered heaven’ (svarga)

Purport

The almighty God can bestow upon anyone the kingdom of the universe from a very small beginning, and similarly He can take away the kingdom of the universe on the plea of begging a small piece of land.

Characters & Entities

• Vamana
• Bali Maharaja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vamana avatara and the three steps of land?

This verse states that as the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord became Vāmana, approached Bali’s sacrifice, begged for three steps of land, and thereby aimed to restore the heavenly kingdom (Triviṣṭapa).

Why did Lord Vamana go to the sacrifice of Bali Maharaja?

Because Bali was performing a grand sacrifice and had gained control over Svarga; the Lord approached that arena as a brāhmaṇa dwarf to request three steps and thus reclaim the heavenly domain for the demigods.

What is the practical lesson of Vamana Leela for modern life?

The Lord’s humble approach teaches that true power can appear as simplicity; it also cautions that pride in achievement should be offered back to God and guided by dharma.