श्रीमहादेव उवाच- अथ वर्षसहस्रांते सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् । अदितिर्जनयामास वामनं विष्णुमच्युतम्
Sri Mahadeva said: Then, at the end of a thousand years, Aditi gave birth to Vamana, the infallible Vishnu, the Lord of all worlds.
श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभोरस्कं पूर्णेंदुसदृशद्युतिम् । सुन्दरं पुंडरीकाक्षमतिखर्वतनुं हरिम्
His chest bore the marks of Srivatsa and Kaustubha, his radiance like the full moon; beautiful, lotus-eyed, Hari, with a very small body.
वटुवेषधरं देवं सर्ववेदांगगोचरम् । मेखलाजिनदण्डादि चिह्नैरंकितमीश्वरम्
The god, wearing the attire of a student, accessible through all the limbs of the Vedas, marked with signs like belt, deer skin, staff, and so on, as Lord.
तं दृष्ट्वा देवताः सर्वे शतक्रतुपुरोगमाः । स्तुत्वा महर्षिभिः सार्द्धं नमश्चक्रुर्महौजसम्
Seeing him, all the gods, led by Indra, together with the great sages, praised him and bowed to the mighty one.
ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्प्रोवाच सुरसत्तमान् । वामन उवाच- किं कर्तव्यं मया चाद्य तद्ब्रवीथ सुरोत्तमाः
Then, pleased, the Blessed Lord spoke to the foremost gods; Vamana said: What should I do today? Tell me, O best of gods.
श्रीशंकर उवाच-। ततः प्रहृष्टास्त्रिदशास्तमूचुः परमेश्वरम् । देवा ऊचुः । अस्मिन्काले बलेर्यज्ञो वर्त्तते मधुसूदन
Sri Shankara said: Then, the delighted gods spoke to the Supreme Lord; the gods said: At this time, O Madhusudana, Bali's sacrifice is underway.
अप्रत्याख्यानकालोऽयं तस्य दैत्यपतेः प्रभो । याचित्वा त्रिदिवं लोकं तन्नस्त्वं दातुमर्हसि
This is the time when the demon king cannot refuse; by asking, you should grant us the heavenly world.
शंकर उवाच- इत्युक्तास्त्रिदशैस्सर्वैराजगाम बलिं हरिः । यागदेशे समासीनमृषिभिस्सार्द्धमष्टभिः
Shankara said: Thus addressed by all the gods, Hari went to Bali, who was seated at the sacrificial place, together with eight sages.
अभ्यागतं तु तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय दैत्यराट् । अभ्यागतः स्वयं विष्णुरितिहास समन्वितः
Seeing him arrive, the king of the Daityas immediately rose; Vishnu himself had come, accompanied by a tale of ancient times.
पूजयामास विधिना निवेश्य कुसुमासने । प्रणिपत्य नमस्कृत्य प्राह गद्गदया गिरा
He worshipped him according to the proper rite, seating him on a flower-strewn seat; bowing down and offering respects, he spoke with a voice choked with emotion.
बलिरुवाच- धन्योऽस्मि कृतकृत्योस्मि सफलं मम जीवितम् । त्वामर्च्चयित्वा विप्रेंद्र किं करोमि तव प्रियम्
Bali said: I am blessed, my life has found its purpose, my existence is fulfilled; having worshipped you, O foremost of Brahmins, what can I do to please you?
आगतोऽसि यदर्थं त्वं मामुद्दिश्य द्विजोत्तमः । तत्प्रयच्छामि ते शीघ्रं ब्रूहि वेदविदां वर
You have come here for some purpose, addressing me, O best of twice-born; I will grant it to you quickly—speak, O foremost knower of the Vedas.
शंकर उवाच- ततः प्रहृष्टमनसा तमुवाच महीपतिम् । वामन उवाच- शृणु राजेंद्र वक्ष्यामि ममागमनकारणम्
Shankara said: Then, with a delighted heart, he spoke to the king; Vamana said: Hear, O king, I will tell you the reason for my coming.
अग्निकुण्डस्य पृथिवीं देहि दैत्यपते मम । मम त्रिविक्रमपदां नान्यदिच्छामि मानद
O lord of the Daityas, grant me the earth measured by three steps from the fire-altar; I desire nothing else, O bestower of honor.
सर्वेषामेव दानानां भूमिदानमनुत्तमम् । यो ददाति महीं राजा विप्रायाकिंचनाय वै
Among all gifts, the gift of land is supreme; a king who gives land to a Brahmin who owns nothing attains the highest merit.
अंगुष्ठमात्रामपि वा स भवेत्पृथिवीपतिः । न भूमिदानसदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते
Even if it is only the size of a thumb, he becomes a lord of the earth; nothing in this world is as pure as the gift of land.
भूमिं यः प्रतिगृह्णाति भूमिं यश्च प्रयच्छति । उभौ तौ पुण्यकर्म्माणौ निधने स्वर्गगामिनौ
He who receives land and he who gives land—both perform meritorious deeds and, at death, go to heaven.
तस्माद्भूमिं महाराज प्रयच्छ त्रिपदीं मम । एतदल्पां महीं दातुं मा विशंक महीपते । जगत्त्रयप्रदानं तन्नाम भूप भविष्यति
Therefore, O great king, grant me the three steps of land; do not hesitate to give this small piece of earth, O lord of the earth. The giving of this will be known as the gift of the three worlds.
शंकर उवाच- ततः प्रहृष्टवदनस्तथेत्याह महीपतिः । तस्मै महीप्रदानं तु कर्तुं मेने विधानतः
Shankara said: Then, with a joyful face, the king said, 'So be it'; he resolved to give the land to him according to the proper rite.
तं दृष्ट्वा दैत्यराजानं तदा तस्य पुरोहितः । उशना ह्यब्रवीद्वाक्यं मा राजन्दीयतां महीम्
Seeing the king of the Daityas thus, his priest at that time, Ushanas, spoke these words: 'O king, do not give the land.'
शुक्र उवाच- एष विष्णुः परेशोऽथ देवैः संप्रार्थितो नृप । वंचयित्वा महीं सर्वां त्वत्तः प्राप्तुमिहागतः
Shukra said: This is Vishnu, the supreme lord, implored by the gods, O king; he has come here to obtain all the earth from you by deception.
तस्मान्मही न दातव्या तस्मै राजन्महात्मने । अन्यमर्थं प्रयच्छस्व वचनान्मम भूपते
Therefore, O king, do not give land to this great soul; give something else instead, as I advise, O lord of the earth.
श्रीशंकर उवाच- ततः प्रहस्य राजासौ तं गुरुं प्राह धैर्य्यतः । बलिरुवाच- प्रीतये वासुदेवस्य सर्वं पुण्यं कृतं मया
Shri Shankara said: Then, laughing, the king calmly addressed his teacher; Bali said: For the pleasure of Vasudeva, I have performed all meritorious acts.
अद्य धन्योस्म्यहं विष्णुः स्वयमेवागतो यदि । तस्य प्रदेयमेवाद्य जीवितं च महत्सुखम्
Today I am blessed, for Vishnu himself has come; to him I must give, even my life and great happiness.
तस्मादस्मै प्रयच्छामि त्रिलोकीमपि मा चिरम् । श्रीशंकर उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा भूपतिस्तस्य पादौ प्रक्षाल्य भक्तितः
Therefore, I will give him even the three worlds without delay; Shri Shankara said: Having said this, the king devotedly washed his feet.
वांच्छितां प्रददौ भूमिं वारिपूर्वं विधानतः । परिणीय नमस्कृत्य दत्वा वै दक्षिणां वसु
He granted the desired land, first pouring water as prescribed; having circumambulated and bowed, he gave the fee and wealth as well.
प्रोवाच तं पुनर्विप्रं प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना । बलिरुवाच- धन्योस्मि कृतकृत्योस्मि तव दत्वा महीं द्विज
Bali, with a heart filled with joy, spoke again to the Brahmin: 'I am blessed, I have fulfilled my purpose by giving you the earth, O Brahmin.'
यथेष्टा तव विप्रेंद्र तद्गृहाण महीमिमाम् । श्रीशंकर उवाच- तमुवाच नृपं विष्णू राजंस्तव समीपतः
'As you wish, O best of Brahmins, take this earth,' said Bali. Śaṅkara said: Viṣṇu then spoke to the king, who was nearby.
मापयामि पदेनाद्य पृथिवीं तव पश्यतः । इत्युक्त्वा खर्वरूपं तद्विहाय परमेश्वरः
'Today, in your presence, I will measure the earth with my foot.' Having said this, the Supreme Lord abandoned his dwarf form.
त्रिविक्रमवपुर्भूत्वा जग्राह पृथिवीमिमाम् । पंचाशत्कोटिविस्तीर्ण ससमुद्र महीधराम्
Assuming the form of Trivikrama, he took possession of this earth, fifty crores in extent, along with its oceans and mountains.