FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.19

पञ्चदशं वामनकं कृत्वागादध्वरं बले: । पदत्रयं याचमान: प्रत्यादित्सुस्त्रिपिष्टपम् ॥ १९ ॥
pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ
[panchadasham vaamanakam]
kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ
[kritvaagaad adhvaram baleh]
pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ
[pada-trayam yaachamaanah]
pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam
[pratyaaditsus tri-pishtapam]
Word-for-word
pañcadaśam — the fifteenth in the line vāmanakam — the dwarf brāhmaṇa kṛtvā — by assumption of agāt — went adhvaram — arena of sacrifice baleḥ — of King Bali pada-trayam — three steps only yācamānaḥ — begging pratyāditsuḥ — willing at heart to return tri-piṣṭapam — the kingdom of the three planetary systems.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ
pañcadaśam
the fifteenth in the line
vāmanakam
the dwarf brāhmaṇa
kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ
kṛtvā
by assumption of
agāt
went
adhvaram
arena of sacrifice
baleḥ
of King Bali
pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ
pada-trayam
three steps only
yācamānaḥ
begging
pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam
pratyāditsuḥ
willing at heart to return
tri-piṣṭapam
the kingdom of the three planetary systems.
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf brāhmaṇa [Vāmana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Mahārāja 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 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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Taking the form of Vāmana as fifteenth avatāra, the Lord went to sacrifice of Bali, begging three steps of land, but desiring to steal the heavenly kingdom from him.
Commentary

Pratyāditṣuḥ means “he desired to snatch away.”

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Vāmana could have demanded three worlds; instead, He asked for three steps of land. Divine power often arrives looking humble, asking little — and that's exactly what trips up the proud.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I size up requests by their apparent size and miss the disguised ones?
  • What 'three steps' is the Lord quietly asking of me right now?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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