पंचदशं वामनकं कृत्वागादध्वरं बलेः पदत्रयं याचमानः प्रत्यादित्सुस्त्रिपिष्टपम्
pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam
Synonyms
pañcadaśam—the fifteenth in the line; vāmanakam—the dwarf brāhmaṇa; kṛtvā—by assumption of; agāt—went; adhvaram—arena of sacrifice; baleḥ—of King Bali; pada-trayam—three steps only; yācamānaḥ—begging; pratyāditsuḥ—willing at heart to return; tri-piṣṭapam—the kingdom of the three planetary systems..
Translation
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf brāhmaṇa [Vāmana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Mahārāja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.
Purport
The Almighty God can bestow upon anyone the kingdom of the universe from a very small beginning, and similarly, He can take away the kingdom of the universe on the plea of begging a small piece of land.