Text 18] The Lord Begs Charity from Bali Maharaja 67

want anything from you that is unnecessary. If a learned brahmana
takes charity from others only according to his needs, he does not
become entangled in sinful activities.

PURPORT

A bréhmana or sannyasi is qualified to ask charity from others, but if
he takes more than necessary he is punishable. No one can use more of
the Supreme Lord’s property than necessary. Lord Vamanadeva in-
directly indicated to Bali Maharaja that he was occupying more land than
he needed. In the material world, all distresses are due to extravagance.
One acquires money extravagantly and also spends it extravagantly. Such
activities are sinful. All property belongs to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, and all living beings, who are sons of the Supreme Lord, have
the right to use the Supreme Father’s property, but one cannot take more
than necessary. This principle should especially be followed by
brahmanas and sannyasis who live at the cost of others. Thus
Vamanadeva was an ideal beggar, for He asked only three paces of land.
Of course, there is a difference between His footsteps and those of an or-
dinary human being. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His in-
conceivable prowess, can occupy the entire universe, including the
upper, lower and middle planetary systems, by the unlimited measure-
ment of His footsteps.

TEXT 18
MAS CTF
We MAI aed TAA: |
ef ara anferaata: art ceaTA FAT 12 <1!
Sri-balir uvaca
aho brahmana-dayada
vacas te vrddha-sammatah
tvarn balo bdliga-matih
svartham praty abudho yatha

$ri-balih uvaca —Bali Maharaja said; aho—alas; brahmana-dayada—
O son of a brahmana; vadcah—the words; te—of You; vurddha-
