Devanagari
पञ्चदशं वामनकं कृत्वागादध्वरं बले: ।
पदत्रयं याचमान: प्रत्यादित्सुस्त्रिपिष्टपम् ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
paṣcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ
kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ
pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ
pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam
Synonyms
paṣcadaśam
—
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.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Taking the form of Vāmana as fifteenth avatāra, the Lord went to sacrifice of Bali, begging three steps of land, but desiring to steal the heavenly kingdom from him.
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.
Commentary (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Pratyāditṣuḥ means “he desired to snatch away.”