The noble Brāhmaṇa had approached the mighty Bāṣkali, requesting from him, through the intercession of the gods, a simple boon: three steps of earth. Indra, king of the gods, reminded Bāṣkali, “O son of Danu, you have been asked—let this boon be granted.” Bāṣkali, with humility, replied, “O king of the gods, accept from me three steps of land for Vāmana.” He blessed Indra, saying, “May you dwell happily for a long time, O lord of the gods.” With these words, Bāṣkali formally gifted three steps of land to Vāmana. Water was poured, sealing the ritual gift, and Bāṣkali prayed, “May Hari himself be pleased with me.” As soon as the lord of the Dānavas completed his promise, the divine Hari shed the guise of the small Vāmana. In that moment, Hari expanded, his form stretching across the worlds, intent on securing the welfare of the gods. Striding to the Yajña mountain, he faced north. The abode of the Dānavas was placed beneath the left foot of the Lord. There, with his first step, the Lord of the universe set foot upon the sun. His second step reached Dhruva, the pole star, and with his third, O king, the god of wondrous deeds struck the very shell of the cosmic egg. From the tip of his great toe, as the egg was pierced, abundant water surged forth, flooding all the worlds in succession—even Brahmaloka was not spared. This sacred flood washed through the realm of Dhruva, the world of the sun, and Yajña mountain, then flowed into Puṣkara, washing the very footprints of Viṣṇu. The marks left on earth by the Lord’s feet came to be known as the Vaiṣṇava footprints. Whoever journeys to that hermitage and bathes in the pond there attains the merit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice merely by seeing it and, accompanied by twenty-one groups, wins residence in Vaikuṇṭha. After enjoying vast pleasures for three hundred kalpas, such a one is reborn as a universal monarch on earth. O Bhīṣma, that stream of water which issued from the tip of Viṣṇu’s big toe is called the Vaiṣṇavī river, born from the foot of the Lord. For this reason, O king, the Gaṅgā became known as Viṣṇupadī, by which the entire threefold world—everything that moves and does not move—was permeated. The pure water that gushed from the wound at the tip of the great toe became the divine river, the Viṣṇupadī. By this holy river, the entire cosmic egg, with all its beings, was suffused, out of the Lord’s desire to bestow grace on all. Afterwards, Vāmana addressed Bāṣkali, “Fulfill my steps.” At this, Bāṣkali was cast down in spirit and could find no reply. Seeing him silent, his priest spoke: “The power to give is innate; we cannot create it ourselves.” Bāṣkali said to Viṣṇu, “O Lord, as much as this earth exists, so much has been given to you by me—as much as the earth extends. What was created by you before, that I have not withheld; the land is small, you are vast, but I am not able to create more. The power of will, O Lord, always rests with you.” Recognizing the truth in these words, Viṣṇu remained silent for a moment. Then he said, “Speak, O chief of Dānavas, what boon shall I grant you? The water in my hand was given by you, O Dānava. Therefore, you are worthy to choose a boon, a fit recipient of blessings. I will grant you your wish here—ask for whatever you desire.” Thus addressed by Janārdana, the Lord of gods, Bāṣkali requested, “O Lord of gods, I choose devotion; let my death come only at your hands. I will go to Śvetadvīpa, which is hard to attain for ascetics.” Viṣṇu replied, “Remain there until the end of the age. When I, in the form of the Boar, enter the earth, then I will slay you here, when you come before me.” Thus addressed, the Dānava withdrew from that place, and then Vāmana encompassed all the worlds, O king. With the departure of the Asuras, the truthfulness of the gods was established, and the Lord, having seized the three worlds, vanished from sight. Bāṣkali, now dwelling in Pātāla, remained there content, while Śakra, wise Indra, protected the three worlds. This glorious manifestation of the Guru of the world is called Trivikrama, joined with the origin of the Ganges, the destroyer of all sins. O king, thus have you heard the origin of Viṣṇu’s three steps. By hearing this, a person in this world is freed from all sins. Evil dreams, dreadful thoughts, difficult deeds, and misdeeds—all these are quickly destroyed upon seeing Viṣṇu’s three steps. Even those burdened by sin, seeing the succession of ages, find subtlety revealed by Viṣṇu in the vision of his steps. Whoever ascends there in silence, having performed the pilgrimage to Tripuṣkarā, attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. Freed from all sins, one who dies there goes to the city of Viṣṇu. Hearing this wondrous tale, Bhīṣma spoke, “O Lord, it is truly marvelous, the binding of Bāṣkala, and the form of Trivikrama that was assumed when Bali was restrained. I have previously heard this, as it was recounted by the foremost of the twice-born; that Bali, son of Virocana, still dwells in Pātāla. How did the Nāga-tīrtha come to be as it is, and what is the origin of the Piśācas? How did Śivadūtī arise here, and by whom was she made auspicious? By whom, O great sage, was Puṣkara brought into the sky? Tell me all this, and how the binding of Bāṣkala happened. Formerly, Viṣṇu traversed the earth; what was the second reason for which the god acted thus?” Thus, the wondrous deeds of Viṣṇu, the tale of Trivikrama, and the sanctification of the worlds by his steps and the birth of the sacred river have been recounted—bestowing liberation and the highest merit upon all who hear them.