Those who came to your house as petitioners never left disappointed; like a wish-fulfilling tree, you granted the desires of all who sought your favor, and there was none to rival your generosity. In brilliance, you shone like the sun; in depth, you were as unfathomable as the ocean. Your patience was as steadfast as the earth itself, and your splendor rivaled that of Nārāyaṇa. Now, this brāhmaṇa named Vāmana, born in the lineage of Kaśyapa, approached me with a humble request: “Grant me three steps of land.” He asked for this land so that he might have a place to perform his fire-sacrifice, explaining that this was the sole reason for his petition. Yet, O Bāṣkala, you have already seized the three worlds with your stride, and I am left without means, without wealth. What you wish to give, I do not possess. Still, I ask you now—whether for another’s sake or for my own—since I too am a petitioner: do what is fitting in this matter. You are born in the noble lineage of Kaśyapa, the one who increased the line; you are the son of Diti, and your father is honored throughout the three worlds. Knowing this, I ask you once more: for the sake of this fire-sacrifice, grant three steps of land. Yet, to this Vāmana—whose body is exceedingly small, O Dānava—I am unable to give land that belongs to another. I can only give what you have asked of me; if my elders or counselors approve, let him have the three steps. Whether I am a petitioner for myself, for my family, or for my kin, or when someone comes to my house seeking aid—let whatever is proper be done. If it pleases you, O mighty lord of the Dānavas, then let the three steps be given quickly to this great-souled Vāmana. At this, Bāṣkali spoke: “Indra, welcome! May auspiciousness come to you without delay. Reflect upon your own self, the ultimate refuge of all. Pitāmaha, having entrusted the burden to you, now rests comfortably, absorbed in meditation and contemplation of the supreme state. Keśava, weary from many battles, has set aside concern for the world and now dwells peacefully on the island in the milk ocean. All the other powerful Dānavas, though armed, have been vanquished by you alone, O Śakra, without any assistance. Here stand the twelve Ādityas, the eleven Rudras, the two Aśvins, the Vasus, and Dharma, the eternal one. Relying on the strength of your arms, they partake in sacrifices in heaven; by your hand, hundreds of rituals have been performed, complete with boons and gifts. You have slain Vṛtra and Namuci, O lord of the gods, as commanded by mighty Viṣṇu. Hiraṇyākṣa, brother of Hiraṇyakaśipu, was also killed, and Hiraṇyakaśipu himself was slain, placed upon the thigh. When you appear on the battlefield, bearing the thunderbolt and mounted upon Airāvata’s head, all the Dānavas perish at the sight. Those Dānavas, mightier than all others, whom you have conquered before—by even a thousandth part of your strength, I could never equal them. With such power as yours, O Indra, what am I to you? It is for my rescue that you have come here. I will do it, without doubt; I would give even my life, certainly. But tell me, O king of gods, why have you spoken of this land to me? These wives, sons, cows, and all other wealth, the entire kingdom of the three worlds—let it be given to this Brāhmaṇa. Disgrace would surely come to me and to my ancestors if, having come to my house, Śakra should receive a gift from Bāṣkali, but not otherwise. Any other supplicant is always dear to me, but especially you—do not ever hesitate here. Great shame is mine, O Indra, for the three steps of land; it was at your special request for the Brāhmaṇa, O lord. I will give the best villages, and for you, the heavenly realm; horses, elephants, land, wealth, and women with prominent breasts. By merely seeing these women, even the old become youthful; both these women and this earth itself are to be given as an offering to Vāmana. I will give it back, O lord of the gods; let your favor be upon me.” When Bāṣkali had spoken thus, the priest Uśanā addressed the lord of the Daityas: “You are the king, O lord of the Daityas, established in the ritual of sovereignty. Yet you do not know what is proper or improper, nor to whom something should be given by me at any time. Only after thorough deliberation with ministers, and examining what is proper and improper, should such decisions be made. Having conquered the gods along with Indra, you have attained the sovereignty of the three worlds. But at the end of this very speech, you will find yourself in bondage. This dwarf, O king, is truly Viṣṇu, the eternal one. You must not give to him; it was he who personally slew your father. The one who stands before you is the killer of your father, the slayer of your mother, the destroyer of your kin; he has been, and will be, the one who brings about the end of your lineage. He does not know righteousness, being devoted to the welfare of Indra and the others. He is a deceiver, by whom the Dānavas have been conquered through deceit. By his illusion, he has assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa and appeared as a dwarf. What more need be said? Nothing at all should be given to him. If you give him even as much land as the footprint of a fly, you will quickly come to ruin—this is the truth, the truth, as I have heard it.” Even when thus warned by his teacher, the lord of the Daityas replied: “All this I have promised, O teacher, for the sake of righteousness.