श्रुतमस्ति मया सर्वं चरितं तव सुव्रत १८.
I have heard all your deeds, O virtuous one.
उटजार्थे च मे देहि भूमीं भूमिभृतांवर १८.
For the sake of a hermitage, grant me land, O best of earth-holders.
हे बटो पंडितो भूत्वा यदुक्तं वचनं पुरा १८.
O ascetic, having become learned, whatever words were spoken before,
वद शीघ्रं महाभाग कियन्मात्रां महीं तव १८.
Tell me quickly, O illustrious one, how much land you desire.
तदाह वामनो वाक्यं स्मयन्मधुरया गिरा १८.
Then Vāmana spoke these words, smiling with a sweet voice.
संतुष्टा ये हि विप्रास्ते नान्ये वेषधरा ह्यमी १८.
Those Brāhmaṇas who are satisfied are indeed true; not these others who merely wear the appearance.
निर्मत्सरा जितकोधावदान्या हि महामते १८.
O greatly wise one, they are free from envy, have conquered anger, and are generous.
मनस्वी त्वं बहुत्वाच्च दातासि भुवनत्रये १८.
You are noble-minded and, because of your abundance, you are a giver in all three worlds.
बहुत्वे नास्ति मे कार्यं मह्या वै सुरसूदन १८.
O slayer of gods, I have no need for abundance.
त्रिपदं पूर्यतेऽस्माकं वस्तुं नास्त्यत्र संशयः तावत्संख्या प्रदातव्या यदि दातासि भो बले॥ १८.
For us, three steps will suffice—there is no doubt about this; that is the measure to be given, if you are indeed a giver, O Bali.
प्रहस्य तमुवाचेदं बलिर्वैरोचनात्मजः १८.
Laughing, Bali, the son of Virocana, spoke to him thus.
मदीयां वै महाभाग मया दत्तां गृहाम वै १८.
O illustrious one, accept what has been given by me as my own.
याचको ह्यल्पको वास्तु दाता सर्वं विमृश्य वै १८.
Whether the petitioner is small or great, the giver, having considered everything, should give.
आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र यो ददाति ह्युदारधीः १८.
He who gives everywhere, measuring by himself, is truly noble-minded.
बटो ददाम्यहं तेऽद्य ससैलवनकाननाम् १८.
O young Brāhmaṇa, today I give you the earth adorned with mountains, forests, and groves.
पुनः प्रोवाच स बटुर्विरोचनसुतं प्रति १८.
Again, that young Brāhmaṇa spoke to the son of Virocana.
बटोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा असुरेन्द्रो बलिस्तदा गृह्यतां च मया दत्तां पदैस्त्रिभिरलंकृताम्॥ १८.
Hearing those words, the lord of Asuras, Bali, then said: 'Accept what has been given by me, adorned with three steps.'
इत्युक्तो वामनः प्राह प्रहसन्नसुरं प्रति १८.
Thus addressed, Vāmana, laughing, spoke to the Asura.
तथेति मत्वा बलिना सुपूजितः स वामनः कश्यपनंदनो महान् १८.
Thinking 'So be it,' and being duly honored by Bali, the great Vāmana, son of Kaśyapa, was satisfied.
तं पूजयित्वा स बलिर्यावद्दातुं समुद्यतः १८.
Having honored him, Bali was about to give as promised.
न दातव्यं त्वया दानं विष्णवे बटुरूपिणे तस्मात्त्वया न पूज्यो हि विष्णुरध्यात्मदीपकः॥ १८.
You should not give charity to Viṣṇu who has taken the form of a Brāhmaṇa; therefore, you should not honor Viṣṇu, the illuminator of the inner self.
पुरा कृतमनेनैव मोहिनीरूपधारिणा १८.
Formerly, this very one, taking the form of Mohinī, acted thus.
येन विद्राविता दैत्याः कालनेमिर्हतो बली॥ १८.
By whom the demons were driven away, and Kalanemi, powerful, was slain.
एवंविधोऽयं पुरुषो महात्मा स ईश्वरो विश्वपतिः स एव १८.
Such is this person, the great-souled one, the Lord, the master of the universe—he alone.
एवं संबोधितो दैत्यो गुरुणा भार्गवेण हि १९.
Thus the demon was addressed by his teacher, the descendant of Bhrigu.
त्वयोक्तोहं हितार्थाय यैर्वाक्यैश्चालितोऽस्म्यहम् १९.
I have been told by you, for my benefit, and by those words I have been moved.
दास्यामि भिक्षितं चास्मै विष्मवे बटुरूपिणे १९.
I will give what has been requested to him, to Vishnu, who has taken the form of a Brahmacharin.
येषां हृदि स्थितो विष्णुस्ते वै पात्रतमा ध्रुवम् १९.
In whose hearts Vishnu dwells, they are certainly the most worthy recipients.
येन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च मंत्रतंत्रादयो ह्यमी १९.
By whom the Vedas, sacrifices, mantras, and tantras—all these—exist.
आगतः कृपया मेद्य सर्वात्मा हरिरीश्वरः १९.
He, Hari, the Lord, the soul of all, has come out of compassion for me.