pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam
Synonyms
pañcadaśam—the fifteenth in the line; vāmanakam—the Dwarf Brahmin; kṛtvā—by assumption of; agāt—went; adhvaram—arena of sacrifice; baleḥ—of the king Bali; pada-trayam—three steps only; yācamānaḥ—begging; pratyāditsuḥ—willing at heart for returning; tri-piṣṭapam—The kingdom of the three planetary system.
Translation
In the fifteenth incarnation the Lord assumed the form of a Dwarf Brahmin (Vamana) and reached the arena of sacrifice arranged by Maharaj Bali. Although at heart He was willing to get back the kingdom of the three planetary system He simply asked for donation of three steps of land.
Purport
The Almighty God willing can bestow upon any one the kingdom of the universe from a very small beginning and similary He can take away the kingdom of the universe on the plea of begging a small peice of land.