156 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 3
pancadasam vamanakarm
krtvagad adhvaram baleh
pada-trayarn yacamanah
pratyaditsus tri-pistapam
paficadasam—the fifteenth in the line; vaémanakam—the dwarf brahmana;
krtva—by assumption of; agat—went; adhvaram—arena of sacrifice; baleh—
of King Bali; pada-trayam—three steps only; ydacamanah—begging;
pratydditsuh—willing at heart to return; tri-pistapam—the kingdom of the
three planetary systems.
TRANSLATION
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf
brahmana [ Vamana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Maharaja
Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three
planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.
PURPORT
The Almighty God can bestow upon anyone the kingdom of the uni-
verse 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.
TEXT 20
ATT TSI THY AAG TNF |
Paras: afta FrgarrRerrery IR ol)
avatdre sodasame
pasyan brahma-druho nrpan
trih-sapta-krtvah kupito
nihksatram akaron mahim
avatare—in the incarnation of the Lord; sodagame—sixteenth; pasyan—
seeing; brahma-druhah—disobedient to the orders of the brahmanas;
nrpan—the kingly order; trih-sapta—thrice seven times; krtvah—had done;
kupitah—being engaged; nih—negation; ksatram—the administrative class;
akarot—did perform; mahim—the earth.
