Shloka 33
Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift
त्रिभि: क्रमैरिमाल्लोकान्विश्वकाय: क्रमिष्यति । सर्वस्वं विष्णवे दत्त्वा मूढ वर्तिष्यसे कथम् ॥ ३३ ॥
tribhiḥ kramair imāl lokān viśva-kāyaḥ kramiṣyati sarvasvaṁ viṣṇave dattvā mūḍha vartiṣyase katham
ท่านสัญญาจะถวายที่ดินสามก้าว แต่พระองค์ผู้มีพระวรกายเป็นจักรวาลจะก้าวครอบครองสามโลกด้วยสามก้าวนั้น โอ้คนเขลา! เมื่อมอบทุกสิ่งแด่พระวิษณุแล้ว ท่านจะดำรงชีพอย่างไร
Bali Mahārāja might argue that he had promised only three steps of land. But Śukrācārya, being a very learned brāhmaṇa, immediately understood that this was a plan of Hari, who had falsely appeared there as a brahmacārī. The words mūḍha vartiṣyase katham reveal that Śukrācārya was a brāhmaṇa of the priestly class. Such priestly brāhmaṇas are mostly interested in receiving remuneration from their disciples. Therefore when Śukrācārya saw that Bali Mahārāja had risked all of his possessions, he understood that this would cause havoc not only to the King but also to the family of Śukrācārya, who was dependent on Mahārāja Bali’s mercy. This is the difference between a Vaiṣṇava and a smārta-brāhmaṇa. A smārta-brāhmaṇa is always interested in material profit, whereas a Vaiṣṇava is interested only in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. From the statement of Śukrācārya, it appears that he was in all respects a smārta-brāhmaṇa interested only in personal gain.
FAQs
This verse points to the Trivikrama revelation: the seemingly small Vāmana is actually Viṣṇu, whose universal form can encompass all worlds with three strides, demonstrating His supreme ownership of everything.
Śukrācārya feared that Bali’s promise to Vāmana would result in total loss of kingdom and security; he questioned how Bali could live after surrendering all possessions—testing Bali’s resolve to keep his word and surrender to the Lord.
Keep integrity in your promises, offer the results of your work to God, and practice detachment—recognizing that everything ultimately belongs to Viṣṇu and using your resources in service rather than ego-based control.