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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

This chapter describes how Lord Vāmanadeva appeared and how He went to the sacrificial arena of Mahārāja Bali, who received Him well and fulfilled His desire by offering Him benedictions.
Lord Vāmanadeva appeared in this world from the womb of Aditi completely equipped with conchshell, disc, club and lotus. His bodily hue was blackish, and He was dressed in yellow garments. Lord Viṣṇu appeared at an auspicious moment on Śravaṇa-dvādaśī when the Abhijit star had arisen. At that time, in all the three worlds (including the higher planetary system, outer space and this earth), all the demigods, the cows, the brāhmaṇas and even the seasons were happy because of God’s appearance. Therefore this auspicious day is called Vijayā. When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has a sac-cid-ānanda body, appeared as the son of Kaśyapa and Aditi, both of His parents were very astonished. After His appearance, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf (Vāmana). All the great sages expressed their jubilation, and with Kaśyapa Muni before them they performed the birthday ceremony of Lord Vāmana. At the time of Lord Vāmanadeva’s sacred thread ceremony, He was honored by the sun-god, Bṛhaspati, the goddess presiding over the planet earth, the deity of the heavenly planets, His mother, Lord Brahmā, Kuvera, the seven ṛṣis and others. Lord Vāmanadeva then visited the sacrificial arena on the northern side of the Narmadā River, at the field known as Bhṛgukaccha, where brāhmaṇas of the Bhṛgu dynasty were performing yajñas. Wearing a belt made of muñja straw, an upper garment of deerskin and a sacred thread and carrying in His hands a daṇḍa, an umbrella and a waterpot (kamaṇḍalu), Lord Vāmanadeva appeared in the sacrificial arena of Mahārāja Bali. Because of His transcendentally effulgent presence, all the priests were diminished in their prowess, and thus they all stood from their seats and offered prayers to Lord Vāmanadeva. Even Lord Śiva accepts on his head the Ganges water generated from the toe of Lord Vāmanadeva. Therefore, after washing the Lord’s feet, Bali Mahārāja immediately accepted the water from the Lord’s feet on his head and felt that he and his predecessors had certainly been glorified. Then Bali Mahārāja inquired of Lord Vāmanadeva’s welfare and requested the Lord to ask him for money, jewels or anything He might desire.
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्थं विरिञ्चस्तुतकर्मवीर्य:
प्रादुर्बभूवामृतभूरदित्याम् ।
चतुर्भुज: शङ्खगदाब्जचक्र:
पिशङ्गवासा नलिनायतेक्षण: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
itthaṁ viriñca-stuta-karma-vīryaḥ
prādurbabhūvāmṛta-bhūr adityām
catur-bhujaḥ śaṅkha-gadābja-cakraḥ
piśaṅga-vāsā nalināyatekṣaṇaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; itthamin this way; viriñca-stuta-karma-vīryaḥthe Personality of Godhead, whose activities and prowess are always praised by Lord Brahmā; prādurbabhūvabecame manifested; amṛta-bhūḥwhose appearance is always deathless; adityāmfrom the womb of Aditi; catuḥ-bhujaḥhaving four arms; śaṅkha-gadā-abja-cakraḥdecorated with conchshell, club, lotus and disc; piśaṅga-vāsāḥdressed in yellow garments; nalina-āyata-īkṣaṇaḥhaving blooming eyes like the petals of a lotus.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After Lord Brahmā had thus spoken, glorifying the Supreme Lord’s activities and prowess, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never subject to death like an ordinary living being, appeared from the womb of Aditi. His four hands were decorated with a conchshell, club, lotus and disc, He was dressed in yellow garments, and His eyes appeared like the petals of a blooming lotus.

Purport

The word amṛta-bhūḥ is significant in this verse. The Lord sometimes appears like an ordinary child taking birth, but this does not mean that He is subject to birth, death or old age. One must be very intelligent to understand the appearance and activities of the Supreme Lord in His incarnations. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ. One should try to understand that the Lord’s appearance and disappearance and His activities are all divyam, or transcendental. The Lord has nothing to do with material activities. One who understands the appearance, disappearance and activities of the Lord is immediately liberated. After giving up his body, he never again has to accept a material body, but is transferred to the spiritual world (tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna).
श्यामावदातो झषराजकुण्डल-
त्विषोल्ल‍सच्छ्रीवदनाम्बुज: पुमान् ।
श्रीवत्सवक्षा बलयाङ्गदोल्ल‍स-
त्किरीटकाञ्चीगुणचारुनूपुर: ॥ २ ॥
śyāmāvadāto jhaṣa-rāja-kuṇḍala-
tviṣollasac-chrī-vadanāmbujaḥ pumān
śrīvatsa-vakṣā balayāṅgadollasat-
kirīṭa-kāñcī-guṇa-cāru-nūpuraḥ

Synonyms

śyāma-avadātaḥwhose body is blackish and free from inebriety; jhaṣa-rāja-kuṇḍalaof the two earrings, made in the shape of sharks; tviṣāby the luster; ullasatdazzling; śrī-vadana-ambujaḥhaving a beautiful lotus face; pumānthe Supreme Person; śrīvatsa-vakṣāḥwith the mark of Śrīvatsa on His bosom; balayabracelets; aṅgadaarm bands; ullasatdazzling; kirīṭahelmet; kāñcībelt; guṇasacred thread; cārubeautiful; nūpuraḥankle bells.

Translation

The body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, blackish in complexion, was free from all inebrieties. His lotus face, decorated with earrings resembling sharks, appeared very beautiful, and on His bosom was the mark of Śrīvatsa. He wore bangles on His wrists, armlets on His arms, a helmet on His head, a belt on His waist, a sacred thread across His chest, and ankle bells decorating His lotus feet.
मधुव्रतव्रातविघुष्टया स्वया
विराजित: श्रीवनमालया हरि: ।
प्रजापतेर्वेश्मतम: स्वरोचिषा
विनाशयन् कण्ठनिविष्टकौस्तुभ: ॥ ३ ॥
madhu-vrata-vrāta-vighuṣṭayā svayā
virājitaḥ śrī-vanamālayā hariḥ
prajāpater veśma-tamaḥ svarociṣā
vināśayan kaṇṭha-niviṣṭa-kaustubhaḥ

Synonyms

madhu-vrataof bees always hankering for honey; vrātawith a bunch; vighuṣṭayāresounding; svayāuncommon; virājitaḥsituated; śrībeautiful; vana-mālayāwith a flower garland; hariḥthe Supreme Lord; prajāpateḥof Kaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati; veśma-tamaḥthe darkness of the house; sva-rociṣāby His own effulgence; vināśayanvanquishing; kaṇṭhaon the neck; niviṣṭaworn; kaustubhaḥthe Kaustubha gem.

Translation

An uncommonly beautiful garland of flowers decorated His bosom, and because the flowers were extremely fragrant, a large group of bees, making their natural humming sounds, invaded them for honey. When the Lord appeared, wearing the Kaustubha gem on His neck, His effulgence vanquished the darkness in the home of the Prajāpati Kaśyapa.
दिश: प्रसेदु: सलिलाशयास्तदा
प्रजा: प्रहृष्टा ऋतवो गुणान्विता: ।
द्यौरन्तरीक्षं क्षितिरग्निजिह्वा
गावो द्विजा: सञ्जहृषुर्नगाश्च ॥ ४ ॥
diśaḥ praseduḥ salilāśayās tadā
prajāḥ prahṛṣṭā ṛtavo guṇānvitāḥ
dyaur antarīkṣaṁ kṣitir agni-jihvā
gāvo dvijāḥ sañjahṛṣur nagāś ca

Synonyms

diśaḥall directions; praseduḥbecame happy; salilaof water; āśayāḥthe reservoirs; tadāat that time; prajāḥall living entities; prahṛṣṭāḥvery happy; ṛtavaḥthe seasons; guṇa-anvitāḥfull of their respective qualities; dyauḥthe upper planetary system; antarīkṣamouter space; kṣitiḥthe surface of the earth; agni-jihvāḥthe demigods; gāvaḥthe cows; dvijāḥthe brāhmaṇas; sañjahṛṣuḥall became happy; nagāḥ caand the mountains.

Translation

At that time, there was happiness in all directions, in the reservoirs of water like the rivers and oceans, and in the core of everyone’s heart. The various seasons displayed their respective qualities, and all living entities in the upper planetary system, in outer space and on the surface of the earth were jubilant. The demigods, the cows, the brāhmaṇas and the hills and mountains were all filled with joy.
श्रोणायां श्रवणद्वादश्यां मुहूर्तेऽभिजिति प्रभु: ।
सर्वे नक्षत्रताराद्याश्चक्रुस्तज्जन्म दक्षिणम् ॥ ५ ॥
śroṇāyāṁ śravaṇa-dvādaśyāṁ
muhūrte ’bhijiti prabhuḥ
sarve nakṣatra-tārādyāś
cakrus taj-janma dakṣiṇam

Synonyms

śroṇāyāmwhen the moon was situated in the Śravaṇa lunar mansion; śravaṇa-dvādaśyāmon the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra, the day famous as the Śravaṇa-dvādaśī; muhūrtein the auspicious moment; abhijitiin the first portion of the Śravaṇa lunar mansion known as the Abhijit-nakṣatra and in the Abhijit-muhūrta (occurring at midday); prabhuḥthe Lord; sarveall; nakṣatrastars; tārāplanets; ādyāḥbeginning with the sun and followed by the other planets; cakruḥmade; tat-janmathe birthday of the Lord; dakṣiṇamvery munificent.

Translation

On the day of Śravaṇa-dvādaśī [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Śravaṇa, at the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe. Considering the Lord’s appearance very auspicious, all the stars and planets, from the sun to Saturn, were munificently charitable.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, an expert astrologer, explains the word nakṣatra-tārādyāḥ. The word nakṣatra means “the stars,” the word tāra in this context refers to the planets, and ādyāḥ means “the first one specifically mentioned.” Among the planets, the first is Sūrya, the sun, not the moon. Therefore, according to the Vedic version, the modern astronomer’s proposition that the moon is nearest to the earth should not be accepted. The chronological order in which people all over the world refer to the days of the week — Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday — corresponds to the Vedic order of the planets and thus circumstantiates the Vedic version. Apart from this, when the Lord appeared the planets and stars became situated very auspiciously, according to astrological calculations, to celebrate the birth of the Lord.
द्वादश्यां सवितातिष्ठन्मध्यन्दिनगतो नृप ।
विजयानाम सा प्रोक्ता यस्यां जन्म विदुर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥
dvādaśyāṁ savitātiṣṭhan
madhyandina-gato nṛpa
vijayā-nāma sā proktā
yasyāṁ janma vidur hareḥ

Synonyms

dvādaśyāmon the twelfth day of the moon; savitāthe sun; atiṣṭhatwas staying; madhyam-dina-gataḥon the meridian; nṛpaO King; vijayā-nāmaby the name Vijayā; that day; proktāis called; yasyāmon which; janmathe appearance; viduḥthey know; hareḥof Lord Hari.

Translation

O King, when the Lord appeared — on dvādaśī, the twelfth day of the moon — the sun was at the meridian, as every learned scholar knows. This dvādaśī is called Vijayā.
शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्मृदङ्गपणवानका: ।
चित्रवादित्रतूर्याणां निर्घोषस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ ७ ॥
śaṅkha-dundubhayo nedur
mṛdaṅga-paṇavānakāḥ
citra-vāditra-tūryāṇāṁ
nirghoṣas tumulo ’bhavat

Synonyms

śaṅkhaconchshells; dundubhayaḥkettledrums; neduḥvibrated; mṛdaṅgadrums; paṇava-ānakāḥdrums named paṇavas and ānakas; citravarious; vāditraof these vibrations of musical sound; tūryāṇāmand of other instruments; nirghoṣaḥthe loud sound; tumulaḥtumultuous; abhavatbecame.

Translation

Conchshells, kettledrums, drums, paṇavas and ānakas vibrated in concert. The sound of these and various other instruments was tumultuous.
प्रीताश्चाप्सरसोऽनृत्यन्गन्धर्वप्रवरा जगु: ।
तुष्टुवुर्मुनयो देवा मनव: पितरोऽग्नय: ॥ ८ ॥
prītāś cāpsaraso ’nṛtyan
gandharva-pravarā jaguḥ
tuṣṭuvur munayo devā
manavaḥ pitaro ’gnayaḥ

Synonyms

prītāḥbeing very pleased; caalso; apsarasaḥthe celestial dancing girls; anṛtyandanced; gandharva-pravarāḥthe best of the Gandharvas; jaguḥsang; tuṣṭuvuḥsatisfied the Lord by offering prayers; munayaḥthe great sages; devāḥthe demigods; manavaḥthe Manus; pitaraḥthe inhabitants of Pitṛloka; agnayaḥthe fire-gods.

Translation

Being very pleased, the celestial dancing girls [Apsarās] danced in jubilation, the best of the Gandharvas sang songs, and the great sages, demigods, Manus, Pitās and fire-gods offered prayers to satisfy the Lord.
सिद्धविद्याधरगणा: सकिम्पुरुषकिन्नरा: ।
चारणा यक्षरक्षांसि सुपर्णा भुजगोत्तमा: ॥ ९ ॥
गायन्तोऽतिप्रशंसन्तो नृत्यन्तो विबुधानुगा: ।
अदित्या आश्रमपदं कुसुमै: समवाकिरन् ॥ १० ॥
siddha-vidyādhara-gaṇāḥ
sakimpuruṣa-kinnarāḥ
cāraṇā yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi
suparṇā bhujagottamāḥ
gāyanto ’tipraśaṁsanto
nṛtyanto vibudhānugāḥ
adityā āśrama-padaṁ
kusumaiḥ samavākiran

Synonyms

siddhathe inhabitants of Siddhaloka; vidyādhara-gaṇāḥthe inhabitants of Vidyādhara-loka; sawith; kimpuruṣathe inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-loka; kinnarāḥthe inhabitants of Kinnaraloka; cāraṇāḥthe inhabitants of Cāraṇaloka; yakṣathe Yakṣas; rakṣāṁsithe Rākṣasas; suparṇāḥthe Suparṇas; bhujaga-uttamāḥthe best of the inhabitants of the serpent loka; gāyantaḥglorifying the Lord; ati-praśaṁsantaḥpraising the Lord; nṛtyantaḥdancing; vibudha-anugāḥthe followers of the demigods; adityāḥof Aditi; āśrama-padamthe place of residence; kusumaiḥby flowers; samavākirancovered.

Translation

The Siddhas, Vidyādharas, Kimpuruṣas, Kinnaras, Cāraṇas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Suparṇas, the best of serpents, and the followers of the demigods all showered flowers on Aditi’s residence, covering the entire house, while glorifying and praising the Lord and dancing.
द‍ृष्ट्वादितिस्तं निजगर्भसम्भवं
परं पुमांसं मुदमाप विस्मिता ।
गृहीतदेहं निजयोगमायया
प्रजापतिश्चाह जयेति विस्मित: ॥ ११ ॥
dṛṣṭvāditis taṁ nija-garbha-sambhavaṁ
paraṁ pumāṁsaṁ mudam āpa vismitā
gṛhīta-dehaṁ nija-yoga-māyayā
prajāpatiś cāha jayeti vismitaḥ

Synonyms

dṛṣṭvāseeing; aditiḥmother Aditi; tamHim (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); nija-garbha-sambhavamborn of her own womb; paramthe Supreme; pumāṁsamthe Personality of Godhead; mudamgreat happiness; āpaconceived; vismitābeing very much astonished; gṛhītaaccepted; dehambody, or transcendental form; nija-yoga-māyayāby His own spiritual potency; prajāpatiḥKaśyapa Muni; caalso; āhasaid; jayaall glories; itithus; vismitaḥbeing astonished.

Translation

When Aditi saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had appeared from her own womb, having accepted a transcendental body by His own spiritual potency, she was struck with wonder and was very happy. Upon seeing the child, Prajāpati Kaśyapa exclaimed, “Jaya! Jaya!” in great happiness and wonder.
यत् तद् वपुर्भाति विभूषणायुधै-
रव्यक्तचिद्वय‍क्तमधारयद्धरि: ।
बभूव तेनैव स वामनो वटु:
सम्पश्यतोर्दिव्यगतिर्यथा नट: ॥ १२ ॥
yat tad vapur bhāti vibhūṣaṇāyudhair
avyakta-cid-vyaktam adhārayad dhariḥ
babhūva tenaiva sa vāmano vaṭuḥ
sampaśyator divya-gatir yathā naṭaḥ

Synonyms

yatwhich; tatthat; vapuḥtranscendental body; bhātimanifests; vibhūṣaṇawith regular ornaments; āyudhaiḥand with weapons; avyaktaunmanifested; cit-vyaktamspiritually manifested; adhārayatassumed; hariḥthe Lord; babhūvaimmediately became; tenawith that; evacertainly; saḥHe (the Lord); vāmanaḥdwarf; vaṭuḥa brāhmaṇa brahmacārī; sampaśyatoḥwhile both His father and mother were seeing; divya-gatiḥwhose movements are wonderful; yathāas; naṭaḥa theatrical actor.

Translation

The Lord appeared in His original form, with ornaments and weapons in His hands. Although this ever-existing form is not visible in the material world, He nonetheless appeared in this form. Then, in the presence of His father and mother, He assumed the form of Vāmana, a brāhmaṇa-dwarf, a brahmacārī, just like a theatrical actor.

Purport

The word naṭaḥ is significant. An actor changes dress to play different parts, but is always the same man. Similarly, as described in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.33, 39), the Lord assumes many thousands and millions of forms (advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣam). He is always present with innumerable incarnations (rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan nānāvatāram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu). Nonetheless, although He appears in various incarnations, they are not different from one another. He is the same person, with the same potency, the same eternity and the same spiritual existence, but He can simultaneously assume various forms. When Vāmanadeva appeared from the womb of His mother, He appeared in the form of Nārāyaṇa, with four hands equipped with the necessary symbolic weapons, and then immediately transformed Himself into a brahmacārī (vaṭu). This means that His body is not material. One who thinks that the Supreme Lord assumes a material body is not intelligent. He has to learn more about the Lord’s position. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ. One has to understand the transcendental appearance of the Lord in His original transcendental body (sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha).
तं वटुं वामनं द‍ृष्ट्वा मोदमाना महर्षय: ।
कर्माणि कारयामासु: पुरस्कृत्य प्रजापतिम् ॥ १३ ॥
taṁ vaṭuṁ vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā
modamānā maharṣayaḥ
karmāṇi kārayām āsuḥ
puraskṛtya prajāpatim

Synonyms

tamHim; vaṭumthe brahmacārī; vāmanamdwarf; dṛṣṭvāseeing; modamānāḥin a happy mood; mahā-ṛṣayaḥthe great saintly persons; karmāṇiritualistic ceremonies; kārayām āsuḥperformed; puraskṛtyakeeping in front; prajāpatimKaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati.

Translation

When the great sages saw the Lord as the brahmacārī-dwarf Vāmana, they were certainly very pleased. Thus they placed before them Kaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati, and performed all the ritualistic ceremonies, such as the birthday ceremony.

Purport

According to Vedic civilization, when a child is born in the family of a brāhmaṇa, the birthday ceremony, known as jāta-karma, is first performed, and then other ceremonies are also gradually performed. But when this vāmana-rūpa appeared in the form of a vaṭu, or brahmacārī, His sacred thread ceremony was also performed immediately.
तस्योपनीयमानस्य सावित्रीं सविताब्रवीत् ।
बृहस्पतिर्ब्रह्मसूत्रं मेखलां कश्यपोऽददात् ॥ १४ ॥
tasyopanīyamānasya
sāvitrīṁ savitābravīt
bṛhaspatir brahma-sūtraṁ
mekhalāṁ kaśyapo ’dadāt

Synonyms

tasyaof Lord Vāmanadeva; upanīyamānasyaat the time of His being offered the sacred thread ceremony; sāvitrīmthe Gāyatrī mantra; savitāthe sun-god; abravītchanted; bṛhaspatiḥBṛhaspati, the guru of the demigods; brahma-sūtramthe sacred thread; mekhalāmthe belt of straw; kaśyapaḥKaśyapa Muni; adadātoffered.

Translation

At the sacred thread ceremony of Vāmanadeva, the sun-god personally uttered the Gāyatrī mantra, Bṛhaspati offered the sacred thread, and Kaśyapa Muni offered a straw belt.
ददौ कृष्णाजिनं भूमिर्दण्डं सोमो वनस्पति: ।
कौपीनाच्छादनं माता द्यौश्छत्रं जगत: पते: ॥ १५ ॥
dadau kṛṣṇājinaṁ bhūmir
daṇḍaṁ somo vanaspatiḥ
kaupīnācchādanaṁ mātā
dyauś chatraṁ jagataḥ pateḥ

Synonyms

dadaugave, offered; kṛṣṇa-ajinamthe skin of a deer; bhūmiḥmother earth; daṇḍama brahmacārī’s rod; somaḥthe moon-god; vanaḥ-patiḥthe king of the forest; kaupīnathe underwear; ācchādanamcovering the body; mātāHis mother, Aditi; dyauḥthe heavenly kingdom; chatraman umbrella; jagataḥof the whole universe; pateḥof the master.

Translation

Mother earth gave Him a deerskin, and the demigod of the moon, who is the king of the forest, gave Him a brahma-daṇḍa [the rod of a brahmacārī]. His mother, Aditi, gave Him cloth for underwear, and the deity presiding over the heavenly kingdom offered Him an umbrella.
कमण्डलुं वेदगर्भ: कुशान्सप्तर्षयो ददु: ।
अक्षमालां महाराज सरस्वत्यव्ययात्मन: ॥ १६ ॥
kamaṇḍaluṁ veda-garbhaḥ
kuśān saptarṣayo daduḥ
akṣa-mālāṁ mahārāja
sarasvaty avyayātmanaḥ

Synonyms

kamaṇḍaluma waterpot; veda-garbhaḥLord Brahmā; kuśānkuśa grass; sapta-ṛṣayaḥthe seven sages; daduḥoffered; akṣa-mālāma string of Rudrākṣa beads; mahārājaO King; sarasvatīthe goddess Sarasvatī; avyaya-ātmanaḥto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

O King, Lord Brahmā offered a waterpot to the inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead, the seven sages offered Him kuśa grass, and mother Sarasvatī gave Him a string of Rudrākṣa beads.
तस्मा इत्युपनीताय यक्षराट् पात्रिकामदात् ।
भिक्षां भगवती साक्षादुमादादम्बिका सती ॥ १७ ॥
tasmā ity upanītāya
yakṣa-rāṭ pātrikām adāt
bhikṣāṁ bhagavatī sākṣād
umādād ambikā satī

Synonyms

tasmaiunto Him (Lord Vāmanadeva); itiin this way; upanītāyawho had undergone His sacred thread ceremony; yakṣa-rāṭKuvera, the treasurer of heaven and King of the Yakṣas; pātrikāma pot for begging alms; adātdelivered; bhikṣāmalms; bhagavatīmother Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva; sākṣātdirectly; umāUmā; adātgave; ambikāthe mother of the universe; satīthe chaste.

Translation

When Vāmanadeva had thus been given the sacred thread, Kuvera, King of the Yakṣas, gave Him a pot for begging alms, and mother Bhagavatī, the wife of Lord Śiva and most chaste mother of the entire universe, gave Him His first alms.
स ब्रह्मवर्चसेनैवं सभां सम्भावितो वटु: ।
ब्रह्मर्षिगणसञ्जुष्टामत्यरोचत मारिष: ॥ १८ ॥
sa brahma-varcasenaivaṁ
sabhāṁ sambhāvito vaṭuḥ
brahmarṣi-gaṇa-sañjuṣṭām
atyarocata māriṣaḥ

Synonyms

saḥHe (Vāmanadeva); brahma-varcasenaby His Brahman effulgence; evamin this way; sabhāmthe assembly; sambhāvitaḥhaving been welcomed by everyone; vaṭuḥthe brahmacārī; brahma-ṛṣi-gaṇa-sañjuṣṭāmfilled with great brāhmaṇa sages; ati-arocatasurpassing, appeared beautiful; māriṣaḥthe best of the brahmacārīs..

Translation

Having thus been welcomed by everyone, Lord Vāmanadeva, the best of the brahmacārīs, exhibited His Brahman effulgence. Thus He surpassed in beauty that entire assembly, which was filled with great saintly brāhmaṇas.
समिद्धमाहितं वह्निं कृत्वा परिसमूहनम् ।
परिस्तीर्य समभ्यर्च्य समिद्भ‍िरजुहोद् द्विज: ॥ १९ ॥
samiddham āhitaṁ vahniṁ
kṛtvā parisamūhanam
paristīrya samabhyarcya
samidbhir ajuhod dvijaḥ

Synonyms

samiddhamblazing; āhitambeing situated; vahnimthe fire; kṛtvāafter making; parisamūhanamproperly; paristīryasurpassing; samabhyarcyaafter offering worship; samidbhiḥwith sacrificial offerings; ajuhotcompleted the fire sacrifice; dvijaḥthe best of the brāhmaṇas..

Translation

After Lord Śrī Vāmanadeva set a sacrificial fire, He offered worship and performed a fire sacrifice on the sacrificial field.
श्रुत्वाश्वमेधैर्यजमानमूर्जितं
बलिं भृगूणामुपकल्पितैस्तत: ।
जगाम तत्राखिलसारसम्भृतो
भारेण गां सन्नमयन्पदे पदे ॥ २० ॥
śrutvāśvamedhair yajamānam ūrjitaṁ
baliṁ bhṛgūṇām upakalpitais tataḥ
jagāma tatrākhila-sāra-sambhṛto
bhāreṇa gāṁ sannamayan pade pade

Synonyms

śrutvāafter hearing; aśvamedhaiḥby aśvamedha sacrifices; yajamānamthe performer; ūrjitamvery glorious; balimBali Mahārāja; bhṛgūṇāmunder the guidance of the brāhmaṇas born in the Bhṛgu dynasty; upakalpitaiḥperformed; tataḥfrom that place; jagāmawent; tatrathere; akhila-sāra-sambhṛtaḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, the essence of all creation; bhāreṇawith the weight; gāmthe earth; sannamayandepressing; pade padeat every step.

Translation

When the Lord heard that Bali Mahārāja was performing aśvamedha sacrifices under the patronage of brāhmaṇas belonging to the Bhṛgu dynasty, the Supreme Lord, who is full in every respect, proceeded there to show His mercy to Bali Mahārāja. By His weight, He pushed down the earth with every step.

Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is akhila-sāra-sambhṛta. In other words, He is the proprietor of everything essential in this material world. Thus although the Lord was going to Bali Mahārāja to beg something, He is always complete and has nothing to beg from anyone. Indeed, He is so powerful that in His full opulence He pressed down the surface of the earth at every step.
तं नर्मदायास्तट उत्तरे बले-
र्य ऋत्विजस्ते भृगुकच्छसंज्ञके ।
प्रवर्तयन्तो भृगव: क्रतूत्तमं
व्यचक्षतारादुदितं यथा रविम् ॥ २१ ॥
taṁ narmadāyās taṭa uttare baler
ya ṛtvijas te bhṛgukaccha-saṁjñake
pravartayanto bhṛgavaḥ kratūttamaṁ
vyacakṣatārād uditaṁ yathā ravim

Synonyms

tamHim (Vāmanadeva); narmadāyāḥof the river Narmadā; taṭeon the bank; uttarenorthern; baleḥof Mahārāja Bali; yewho; ṛtvijaḥthe priests engaged in ritualistic ceremonies; teall of them; bhṛgukaccha-saṁjñakein the field named Bhṛgukaccha; pravartayantaḥperforming; bhṛgavaḥall the descendants of Bhṛgu; kratu-uttamamthe most important sacrifice, named aśvamedha; vyacakṣatathey observed; ārātnearby; uditamrisen; yathālike; ravimthe sun.

Translation

While engaged in performing the sacrifice in the field known as Bhṛgukaccha, on the northern bank of the Narmadā River, the brahminical priests, the descendants of Bhṛgu, saw Vāmanadeva to be like the sun rising nearby.
ते ऋत्विजो यजमान: सदस्या
हतत्विषो वामनतेजसा नृप ।
सूर्य: किलायात्युत वा विभावसु:
सनत्कुमारोऽथ दिद‍ृक्षया क्रतो: ॥ २२ ॥
te ṛtvijo yajamānaḥ sadasyā
hata-tviṣo vāmana-tejasā nṛpa
sūryaḥ kilāyāty uta vā vibhāvasuḥ
sanat-kumāro ’tha didṛkṣayā kratoḥ

Synonyms

teall of them; ṛtvijaḥthe priests; yajamānaḥas well as Bali Mahārāja, who had engaged them in performing the yajña; sadasyāḥall the members of the assembly; hata-tviṣaḥdecreased in their bodily effulgence; vāmana-tejasāby the brilliant effulgence of Lord Vāmana; nṛpaO King; sūryaḥthe sun; kilawhether; āyātiis coming; uta either; vibhāvasuḥthe fire-god; sanat-kumāraḥthe Kumāra known as Sanat-kumāra; athaeither; didṛkṣayāwith a desire to observe; kratoḥthe sacrificial ceremony.

Translation

O King, because of Vāmanadeva’s bright effulgence, the priests, along with Bali Mahārāja and all the members of the assembly, were robbed of their splendor. Thus they began to ask one another whether the sun-god himself, Sanat-kumāra or the fire-god had personally come to see the sacrificial ceremony.
इत्थं सशिष्येषु भृगुष्वनेकधा
वितर्क्यमाणो भगवान्स वामन: ।
छत्रं सदण्डं सजलं कमण्डलुं
विवेश बिभ्रद्धयमेधवाटम् ॥ २३ ॥
itthaṁ saśiṣyeṣu bhṛguṣv anekadhā
vitarkyamāṇo bhagavān sa vāmanaḥ
chatraṁ sadaṇḍaṁ sajalaṁ kamaṇḍaluṁ
viveśa bibhrad dhayamedha-vāṭam

Synonyms

itthamin this way; sa-śiṣyeṣuwith their disciples; bhṛguṣuamong the Bhṛgus; anekadhāin many ways; vitarkyamāṇaḥbeing talked and argued about; bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead; saḥthat; vāmanaḥLord Vāmana; chatramumbrella; sa-daṇḍamwith the rod; sa-jalamfilled with water; kamaṇḍalumwaterpot; viveśaentered; bibhrattaking in hand; hayamedhaof the aśvamedha sacrifice; vāṭamthe arena.

Translation

While the priests of the Bhṛgu dynasty and their disciples talked and argued in various ways, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāmanadeva, holding in His hands the rod, the umbrella and a waterpot full of water, entered the arena of the aśvamedha sacrifice.
मौञ्‍ज्या मेखलया वीतमुपवीताजिनोत्तरम् ।
जटिलं वामनं विप्रं मायामाणवकं हरिम् ॥ २४ ॥
प्रविष्टं वीक्ष्य भृगव: सशिष्यास्ते सहाग्निभि: ।
प्रत्यगृह्णन्समुत्थाय सङ्‌क्षिप्तास्तस्य तेजसा ॥ २५ ॥
mauñjyā mekhalayā vītam
upavītājinottaram
jaṭilaṁ vāmanaṁ vipraṁ
māyā-māṇavakaṁ harim
praviṣṭaṁ vīkṣya bhṛgavaḥ
saśiṣyās te sahāgnibhiḥ
pratyagṛhṇan samutthāya
saṅkṣiptās tasya tejasā

Synonyms

mauñjyāmade of muñja straw; mekhalayāwith a belt; vītamcircled; upavītasacred thread; ajina-uttaramwearing a deerskin upper garment; jaṭilamhaving matted locks of hair; vāmanamLord Vāmana; viprama brāhmaṇa; māyā-māṇavakamthe illusory son of a human being; harimthe Supreme Personality of Godhead; praviṣṭamentered; vīkṣyaseeing; bhṛgavaḥthe priests who were descendants of Bhṛgu; sa-śiṣyāḥwith their disciples; teall of them; saha-agnibhiḥwith the fire sacrifice; pratyagṛhṇanproperly welcomed; samutthāyastanding up; saṅkṣiptāḥbeing diminished; tasyaHis; tejasāby brilliance.

Translation

Appearing as a brāhmaṇa boy, wearing a belt of straw, a sacred thread, an upper garment of deerskin, and matted locks of hair, Lord Vāmanadeva entered the arena of sacrifice. His brilliant effulgence diminished the brilliance of all the priests and their disciples, who thus stood from their seats and welcomed the Lord properly by offering obeisances.
यजमान: प्रमुदितो दर्शनीयं मनोरमम् ।
रूपानुरूपावयवं तस्मा आसनमाहरत् ॥ २६ ॥
yajamānaḥ pramudito
darśanīyaṁ manoramam
rūpānurūpāvayavaṁ
tasmā āsanam āharat

Synonyms

yajamānaḥBali Mahārāja, who had engaged all the priests in performing the sacrifice; pramuditaḥbeing very jubilant; darśanīyampleasing to see; manoramamso beautiful; rūpawith beauty; anurūpaequal to His bodily beauty; avayavamall the different parts of the body; tasmaiunto Him; āsanama sitting place; āharatoffered.

Translation

Bali Mahārāja, jubilant at seeing Lord Vāmanadeva, whose beautiful limbs contributed equally to the beauty of His entire body, offered Him a seat with great satisfaction.
स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्याथ पादौ भगवतो बलि: ।
अवनिज्यार्चयामास मुक्तसङ्गमनोरमम् ॥ २७ ॥
svāgatenābhinandyātha
pādau bhagavato baliḥ
avanijyārcayām āsa
mukta-saṅga-manoramam

Synonyms

su-āgatenaby words of welcome; abhinandyawelcoming; athathus; pādauthe two lotus feet; bhagavataḥof the Lord; baliḥBali Mahārāja; avanijyawashing; arcayām āsaworshiped; mukta-saṅga-manoramamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beautiful to the liberated souls.

Translation

Thus offering a proper reception to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always beautiful to the liberated souls, Bali Mahārāja worshiped Him by washing His lotus feet.
तत्पादशौचं जनकल्मषापहं
स धर्मविन्मूर्ध्‍न्यदधात् सुमङ्गलम् ।
यद् देवदेवो गिरिशश्चन्द्रमौलि-
र्दधार मूर्ध्ना परया च भक्त्या ॥ २८ ॥
tat-pāda-śaucaṁ jana-kalmaṣāpahaṁ
sa dharma-vin mūrdhny adadhāt sumaṅgalam
yad deva-devo giriśaś candra-maulir
dadhāra mūrdhnā parayā ca bhaktyā

Synonyms

tat-pāda-śaucamthe water that washed the lotus feet of the Lord; jana-kalmaṣa-apahamwhich washes away all the sinful reactions of the people in general; saḥhe (Bali Mahārāja); dharma-vitcompletely aware of religious principles; mūrdhnion the head; adadhātcarried; su-maṅgalamall-auspicious; yatwhich; deva-devaḥthe best of the demigods; giriśaḥLord Śiva; candra-mauliḥwho carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon; dadhāracarried; mūrdhnāon the head; parayāsupreme; caalso; bhaktyāwith devotion.

Translation

Lord Śiva, the best of demigods, who carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon, receives on his head with great devotion the Ganges water emanating from the toe of Viṣṇu. Being aware of religious principles, Bali Mahārāja knew this. Consequently, following in the footsteps of Lord Śiva, he also placed on his head the water that had washed the Lord’s lotus feet.

Purport

Lord Śiva is known as Gaṅgā-dhara, or one who carries the water of the Ganges on his head. On Lord Śiva’s forehead is the emblem of the half-moon, yet to give supreme respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śiva placed the water of the Ganges above this emblem. This example should be followed by everyone, or at least by every devotee, because Lord Śiva is one of the mahājanas. Similarly, Mahārāja Bali also later became a mahājana. One mahājana follows another mahājana, and by following the paramparā system of mahājana activities one can become advanced in spiritual consciousness. The water of the Ganges is sanctified because it emanates from the toe of Lord Viṣṇu. Bali Mahārāja washed the lotus feet of Vāmanadeva, and the water with which he did so became equal to the Ganges. Bali Mahārāja, who perfectly knew all religious principles, therefore took that water on his head, following in the footsteps of Lord Śiva.
श्रीबलिरुवाच
स्वागतं ते नमस्तुभ्यं ब्रह्मन्किं करवाम ते ।
ब्रह्मर्षीणां तप: साक्षान्मन्ये त्वार्य वपुर्धरम् ॥ २९ ॥
śrī-balir uvāca
svāgataṁ te namas tubhyaṁ
brahman kiṁ karavāma te
brahmarṣīṇāṁ tapaḥ sākṣān
manye tvārya vapur-dharam

Synonyms

śrī-baliḥ uvācaBali Mahārāja said; su-āgatamall welcome; teunto You; namaḥ tubhyamI offer my respectful obeisances unto You; brahmanO brāhmaṇa; kimwhat; karavāmacan we do; tefor You; brahma-ṛṣīṇāmof the great brāhmaṇa sages; tapaḥausterity; sākṣātdirectly; manyeI think; tvāYou; āryaO noble one; vapuḥ-dharampersonified.

Translation

Bali Mahārāja then said to Lord Vāmanadeva: O brāhmaṇa, I offer You my hearty welcome and my respectful obeisances. Please let us know what we may do for You. We think of You as the personified austerity of the great brāhmaṇa-sages.
अद्य न: पितरस्तृप्ता अद्य न: पावितं कुलम् ।
अद्य स्विष्ट: क्रतुरयं यद् भवानागतो गृहान् ॥ ३० ॥
adya naḥ pitaras tṛptā
adya naḥ pāvitaṁ kulam
adya sviṣṭaḥ kratur ayaṁ
yad bhavān āgato gṛhān

Synonyms

adyatoday; naḥour; pitaraḥforefathers; tṛptāḥsatisfied; adyatoday; naḥour; pāvitampurified; kulamthe whole family; adyatoday; su-iṣṭaḥproperly executed; kratuḥthe sacrifice; ayamthis; yatbecause; bhavānYour Lordship; āgataḥarrived; gṛhānat our residence.

Translation

O my Lord, because You have kindly arrived at our home, all my forefathers are satisfied, our family and entire dynasty have been sanctified, and the sacrifice we are performing is now complete because of Your presence.
अद्याग्नयो मे सुहुता यथाविधि
द्विजात्मज त्वच्चरणावनेजनै: ।
हतांहसो वार्भिरियं च भूरहो
तथा पुनीता तनुभि: पदैस्तव ॥ ३१ ॥
adyāgnayo me suhutā yathā-vidhi
dvijātmaja tvac-caraṇāvanejanaiḥ
hatāṁhaso vārbhir iyaṁ ca bhūr aho
tathā punītā tanubhiḥ padais tava

Synonyms

adyatoday; agnayaḥthe sacrificial fires; meexecuted by me; su-hutāḥproperly offered oblations; yathā-vidhiin terms of the śāstric injunction; dvija-ātmajaO son of a brāhmaṇa; tvat-caraṇa-avanejanaiḥwhich washed Your lotus feet; hata-aṁhasaḥwho have become cleansed of all sinful reactions; vārbhiḥby the water; iyamthis; caalso; bhūḥthe surface of the globe; ahooh; tathāas well; punītāsanctified; tanubhiḥsmall; padaiḥby the touch of the lotus feet; tavaYour.

Translation

O son of a brāhmaṇa, today the fire of sacrifice is ablaze according to the injunction of the śāstra, and I have been freed from all the sinful reactions of my life by the water that has washed Your lotus feet. O my Lord, by the touch of Your small lotus feet the entire surface of the world has been sanctified.
यद् वटो वाञ्छसि तत्प्रतीच्छ मे
त्वामर्थिनं विप्रसुतानुतर्कये ।
गां काञ्चनं गुणवद् धाम मृष्टं
तथान्नपेयमुत वा विप्रकन्याम् ।
ग्रामान् समृद्धांस्तुरगान् गजान् वा
रथांस्तथार्हत्तम सम्प्रतीच्छ ॥ ३२ ॥
yad yad vaṭo vāñchasi tat pratīccha me
tvām arthinaṁ vipra-sutānutarkaye
gāṁ kāñcanaṁ guṇavad dhāma mṛṣṭaṁ
tathānna-peyam uta vā vipra-kanyām
grāmān samṛddhāṁs turagān gajān vā
rathāṁs tathārhattama sampratīccha

Synonyms

yat yatwhatever; vaṭoO brahmacārī; vāñchasiYou desire; tatthat; pratīcchaYou may take; mefrom me; tvāmYou; arthinamdesiring something; vipra-sutaO son of a brāhmaṇa; anutarkayeI consider; gāma cow; kāñcanamgold; guṇavat dhāmaa furnished residence; mṛṣṭampalatable; tathāas well as; annafood grains; peyamdrink; utaindeed; either; vipra-kanyāmthe daughter of a brāhmaṇa; grāmānvillages; samṛddhānprosperous; turagānhorses; gajānelephants; either; rathānchariots; tathāas well as; arhat-tamaO best of those who are worshipable; sampratīcchaYou may take.

Translation

O son of a brāhmaṇa, it appears that You have come here to ask me for something. Therefore, whatever You want You may take from me. O best of those who are worshipable. You may take from me a cow, gold, a furnished house, palatable food and drink, the daughter of a brāhmaṇa for Your wife, prosperous villages, horses, elephants, chariots or whatever You desire.

Purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation.”