Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 15
किं न वेत्ति प्रमाणं मे बलिस्तव पिता सुत । बलेरपि हितार्थाय कृतमेतत्पदत्रयम्
kiṃ na vetti pramāṇaṃ me balistava pitā suta | balerapi hitārthāya kṛtametatpadatrayam
ดูก่อนบุตรเอ๋ย บิดาของเจ้าคือพลีกระนั้นหรือไม่รู้มาตราของเราที่แท้จริง? การกระทำ ‘สามก้าว’ นี้กระทำขึ้นก็เพื่อประโยชน์เกื้อกูลแก่พลีกเองด้วย
Janārdana / Trivikrama (Viṣṇu)
Tirtha: Vastrāpatha
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame implied)
Scene: Janārdana asserts: Bali knows my true measure; the three steps were done for Bali’s welfare. The scene blends firmness with compassion—divine authority tempered by benevolent intent.
FAQs
Divine correction can be compassion: what appears as loss may be ordained for the devotee’s long-term good.
The teaching is situated in the Vastrāpathakṣetra-māhātmya of Prabhāsa, linking sacred place-tradition with enduring dharma.
No explicit rite; the verse interprets a famed dāna/yajña episode as welfare-oriented divine governance.