> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 8
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 8: 'Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations'

> > *****

> > Chapter Eighteen: Lord Vamanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

> > *****

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > ittham virinca-stuta-karma-vîryah

> > prâdurbabhûvâmrta-bhûr adityâm

> > catur-bhujah sankha-gadâbja-cakrah

> > pisanga-vâsâ nalinâyateksanah

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; ittham--in this way; virinca-stuta-karma-vîryah--the Personality of Godhead, whose activities and prowess are always praised by Lord Brahmâ; prâdurbabhûva--became manifested; amrta-bhûh--whose appearance is always deathless; adityâm--from the womb of Aditi; catuh-bhujah--having four arms; sankha-gadâ-abja-cakrah--decorated with conchshell, club, lotus and disc; pisanga-vâsâh--dressed in yellow garments; nalina-âyata-îksanah--having blooming eyes like the petals of a lotus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: After Lord Brahma had thus spoken, glorifying the Supreme Lord's activities and prowess, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never subject to death like an ordinary living being, appeared from the womb of Aditi. His four hands were decorated with a conchshell, club, lotus and disc, He was dressed in yellow garments, and His eyes appeared like the petals of a blooming lotus.

> > *****

> > TEXT 2

> > syâmâvadâto jhasa-râja-kundala-

> > tvisollasac-chrî-vadanâmbujah pumân

> > srîvatsa-vaksâ balayângadollasat-

> > kirîta-kâncî-guna-câru-nûpurah

> > syâma-avadâtah--whose body is blackish and free from inebriety; jhasa-râja-kundala--of the two earrings, made in the shape of sharks; tvisâ--by the luster; ullasat--dazzling; srî-vadana-ambujah--having a beautiful lotus face; pumân--the Supreme Person; srîvatsa-vaksâh--with the mark of Srîvatsa on His bosom; balaya--bracelets; angada--arm bands; ullasat--dazzling; kirîta--helmet; kâncî--belt; guna--sacred thread; câru--beautiful; nûpurah--ankle bells.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, blackish in complexion, was free from all inebrieties. His lotus face, decorated with earrings resembling sharks, appeared very beautiful, and on His bosom was the mark of Srivatsa. He wore bangles on His wrists, armlets on His arms, a helmet on His head, a belt on His waist, a sacred thread across His chest, and ankle bells decorating His lotus feet.

> > *****

> > TEXT 3

> > madhu-vrata-vrâta-vighustayâ svayâ

> > virâjitah srî-vanamâlayâ harih

> > prajâpater vesma-tamah svarocisâ

> > vinâsayan kantha-nivista-kaustubhah

> > madhu-vrata--of bees always hankering for honey; vrâta--with a bunch; vighustayâ--resounding; svayâ--uncommon; virâjitah--situated; srî--beautiful; vana-mâlayâ--with a flower garland; harih--the Supreme Lord; prajâpateh--of Kasyapa Muni, the Prajâpati; vesma-tamah--the darkness of the house; sva-rocisâ--by His own effulgence; vinâsayan--vanquishing; kantha--on the neck; nivista--worn; kaustubhah--the Kaustubha gem.

> > TRANSLATION

> > An uncommonly beautiful garland of flowers decorated His bosom, and because the flowers were extremely fragrant, a large group of bees, making their natural humming sounds, invaded them for honey. When the Lord appeared, wearing the Kaustubha gem on His neck, His effulgence vanquished the darkness in the home of the Prajapati Kasyapa.

> > *****

> > TEXT 4

> > disah praseduh salilâsayâs tadâ

> > prajâh prahrstâ rtavo gunânvitâh

> > dyaur antarîksam ksitir agni-jihvâ

> > gâvo dvijâh sanjahrsur nagâs ca

> > disah--all directions; praseduh--became happy; salila--of water; âsayâh--the reservoirs; tadâ--at that time; prajâh--all living entities; prahrstâh--very happy; rtavah--the seasons; guna-anvitâh--full of their respective qualities; dyauh--the upper planetary system; antarîksam--outer space; ksitih--the surface of the earth; agni-jihvâh--the demigods; gâvah--the cows; dvijâh--the brâhmanas; sanjahrsuh--all became happy; nagâh ca--and the mountains.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At that time, there was happiness in all directions, in the reservoirs of water like the rivers and oceans, and in the core of everyone's heart. The various seasons displayed their respective qualities, and all living entities in the upper planetary system, in outer space and on the surface of the earth were jubilant. The demigods, the cows, the brahmanas and the hills and mountains were all filled with joy.

> > *****

> > TEXT 5

> > sronâyâm sravana-dvâdasyâm

> > muhûrte 'bhijiti prabhuh

> > sarve naksatra-târâdyâs

> > cakrus taj-janma daksinam

> > sronâyâm--when the moon was situated in the Sravana lunar mansion; sravana-dvâdasyâm--on the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhâdra, the day famous as the Sravana-dvâdasî; muhûrte--in the auspicious moment; abhijiti--in the first portion of the Sravana lunar mansion known as the Abhijit-naksatra and in the Abhijit-muhûrta (occurring at midday); prabhuh--the Lord; sarve--all; naksatra--stars; târâ--planets; âdyâh--beginning with the sun and followed by the other planets; cakruh--made; tat-janma--the birthday of the Lord; daksinam--very munificent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > On the day of Sravana-dvadasi [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Sravana, at the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe. Considering the Lord's appearance very auspicious, all the stars and planets, from the sun to Saturn, were munificently charitable.

> > *****

> > TEXT 6

> > dvâdasyâm savitâtisthan

> > madhyandina-gato nrpa

> > vijayâ-nâma sâ proktâ

> > yasyâm janma vidur hareh

> > dvâdasyâm--on the twelfth day of the moon; savitâ--the sun; atisthat--was staying; madhyam-dina-gatah--on the meridian; nrpa--O King; vijayâ-nâma--by the name Vijayâ; sâ--that day; proktâ--is called; yasyâm--on which; janma--the appearance; viduh--they know; hareh--of Lord Hari.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, when the Lord appeared--on dvadasi, the twelfth day of the moon--the sun was at the meridian, as every learned scholar knows. This dvadasi is called Vijaya.

> > *****

> > TEXT 7

> > sankha-dundubhayo nedur

> > mrdanga-panavânakâh

> > citra-vâditra-tûryânâm

> > nirghosas tumulo 'bhavat

> > sankha--conchshells; dundubhayah--kettledrums; neduh--vibrated; mrdanga--drums; panava-ânakâh--drums named panavas and ânakas; citra--various; vâditra--of these vibrations of musical sound; tûryânâm--and of other instruments; nirghosah--the loud sound; tumulah--tumultuous; abhavat--became.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Conchshells, kettledrums, drums, panavas and anakas vibrated in concert. The sound of these and various other instruments was tumultuous.

> > *****

> > TEXT 8

> > prîtâs câpsaraso 'nrtyan

> > gandharva-pravarâ jaguh

> > tustuvur munayo devâ

> > manavah pitaro 'gnayah

> > prîtâh--being very pleased; ca--also; apsarasah--the celestial dancing girls; anrtyan--danced; gandharva-pravarâh--the best of the Gandharvas; jaguh--sang; tustuvuh--satisfied the Lord by offering prayers; munayah--the great sages; devâh--the demigods; manavah--the Manus; pitarah--the inhabitants of Pitrloka; agnayah--the fire-gods.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Being very pleased, the celestial dancing girls [Apsaras] danced in jubilation, the best of the Gandharvas sang songs, and the great sages, demigods, Manus, Pitas and fire-gods offered prayers to satisfy the Lord.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 9-10

> > siddha-vidyâdhara-ganâh

> > sakimpurusa-kinnarâh

> > câranâ yaksa-raksâmsi

> > suparnâ bhujagottamvâh

> > gâyanto 'tiprasamsanto

> > nrtyanto vibudhânugâh

> > adityâ âsrama-padam

> > kusumaih samavâkiran

> > siddha--the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; vidyâdhara-ganâh--the inhabitants of Vidyâdhara-loka; sa--with; kimpurusa--the inhabitants of Kimpurusa-loka; kinnarâh--the inhabitants of Kinnaraloka; câranâh--the inhabitants of Câranaloka; yaksa--the Yaksas; raksâmsi--the Râksasas; suparnâh--the Suparnas; bhujaga-uttamâh--the best of the inhabitants of the serpent loka; gâyantah--glorifying the Lord; ati-prasamsantah--praising the Lord; nrtyantah--dancing; vibudha-anugâh--the followers of the demigods; adityâh--of Aditi; âsrama-padam--the place of residence; kusumaih--by flowers; samavâkiran--covered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Siddhas, Vidyadharas, Kimpurusas, Kinnaras, Caranas, Yaksas, Raksasas, Suparnas, the best of serpents, and the followers of the demigods all showered flowers on Aditi's residence, covering the entire house, while glorifying and praising the Lord and dancing.

> > *****

> > TEXT 11

> > drstvâditis tam nija-garbha-sambhavam

> > param pumâmsam mudam âpa vismitâ

> > grhîta-deham nija-yoga-mâyayâ

> > prajâpatis câha jayeti vismitah

> > drstvâ--seeing; aditih--mother Aditi; tam--Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); nija-garbha-sambhavam--born of her own womb; param--the Supreme; pumâmsam--the Personality of Godhead; mudam--great happiness; âpa--conceived; vismitâ--being very much astonished; grhîta--accepted; deham--body, or transcendental form; nija-yoga-mâyayâ--by His own spiritual potency; prajâpatih--Kasyapa Muni; ca--also; âha--said; jaya--all glories; iti--thus; vismitah--being astonished.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Aditi saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had appeared from her own womb, having accepted a transcendental body by His own spiritual potency, she was struck with wonder and was very happy. Upon seeing the child, Prajapati Kasyapa exclaimed, "Jaya! Jaya!" in great happiness and wonder.

> > *****

> > TEXT 12

> > yat tad vapur bhâti vibhûsanâyudhair

> > avyakta-cid-vyaktam adhârayad dharih

> > babhûva tenaiva sa vâmano vatuh

> > sampasyator divya-gatir yathâ natah

> > yat--which; tat--that; vapuh--transcendental body; bhâti--manifests; vibhûsana--with regular ornaments; âyudhaih--and with weapons; avyakta--unmanifested; cit-vyaktam--spiritually manifested; adhârayat--assumed; harih--the Lord; babhûva--immediately became; tena--with that; eva--certainly; sah--He (the Lord); vâmanah--dwarf; vatuh--a brâhmana brahmacârî; sampasyatoh--while both His father and mother were seeing; divya-gatih--whose movements are wonderful; yathâ--as; natah--a theatrical actor.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord appeared in His original form, with ornaments and weapons in His hands. Although this ever-existing form is not visible in the material world, He nonetheless appeared in this form. Then, in the presence of His father and mother, He assumed the form of Vamana, a brahmana-dwarf, a brahmacari, just like a theatrical actor.

> > *****

> > TEXT 13

> > tam vatum vâmanam drstvâ

> > modamânâ maharsayah

> > karmâni kârayâm âsuh

> > puraskrtya prajâpatim

> > tam--Him; vatum--the brahmacârî; vâmanam--dwarf; drstvâ--seeing; modamânâh--in a happy mood; mahâ-rsayah--the great saintly persons; karmâni--ritualistic ceremonies; kârayâm âsuh--performed; puraskrtya--keeping in front; prajâpatim--Kasyapa Muni, the Prajâpati.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the great sages saw the Lord as the brahmacari-dwarf Vamana, they were certainly very pleased. Thus they placed before them Kasyapa Muni, the Prajapati, and performed all the ritualistic ceremonies, such as the birthday ceremony.

> > *****

> > TEXT 14

> > tasyopanîyamânasya

> > sâvitrîm savitâbravît

> > brhaspatir brahma-sûtram

> > mekhalâm kasyapo 'dadât

> > tasya--of Lord Vâmanadeva; upanîyamânasya--at the time of His being offered the sacred thread ceremony; sâvitrîm--the Gâyatrî mantra; savitâ--the sun-god; abravît--chanted; brhaspatih--Brhaspati, the guru of the demigods; brahma-sûtram--the sacred thread; mekhalâm--the belt of straw; kasyapah--Kasyapa Muni; adadât--offered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At the sacred thread ceremony of Vamanadeva, the sun-god personally uttered the Gayatri mantra, Brhaspati offered the sacred thread, and Kasyapa Muni offered a straw belt.

> > *****

> > TEXT 15

> > dadau krsnâjinam bhûmir

> > dandam somo vanaspatih

> > kaupînâcchâdanam mâtâ

> > dyaus chatram jagatah pateh

> > dadau--gave, offered; krsna-ajinam--the skin of a deer; bhûmih--mother earth; dandam--a brahmacârî's rod; somah--the moon-god; vanah-patih--the king of the forest; kaupîna--the underwear; âcchâdanam--covering the body; mâtâ--His mother, Aditi; dyauh--the heavenly kingdom; chatram--an umbrella; jagatah--of the whole universe; pateh--of the master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Mother earth gave Him a deerskin, and the demigod of the moon, who is the king of the forest, gave Him a brahma-danda [the rod of a brahmacari]. His mother, Aditi, gave Him cloth for underwear, and the deity presiding over the heavenly kingdom offered Him an umbrella.

> > *****

> > TEXT 16

> > kamandalum veda-garbhah

> > kusân saptarsayo daduh

> > aksa-mâlâm mahârâja

> > sarasvaty avyayâtmanah

> > kamandalum--a waterpot; veda-garbhah--Lord Brahmâ; kusân--kusa grass; sapta-rsayah--the seven sages; daduh--offered; aksa-mâlâm--a string of Rudrâksa beads; mahârâja--O King; sarasvatî--the goddess Sarasvatî; avyaya-âtmanah--to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, Lord Brahma offered a waterpot to the inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead, the seven sages offered Him kusa grass, and mother Sarasvati gave Him a string of Rudraksa beads.

> > *****

> > TEXT 17

> > tasmâ ity upanîtâya

> > yaksa-rât pâtrikâm adât

> > bhiksâm bhagavatî sâksâd

> > umâdâd ambikâ satî

> > tasmai--unto Him (Lord Vâmanadeva); iti--in this way; upanîtâya--who had undergone His sacred thread ceremony; yaksa-rât--Kuvera, the treasurer of heaven and King of the Yaksas; pâtrikâm--a pot for begging alms; adât--delivered; bhiksâm--alms; bhagavatî--mother Bhavânî, the wife of Lord Siva; sâksât--directly; umâ--Umâ; adât--gave; ambikâ--the mother of the universe; satî--the chaste.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Vamanadeva had thus been given the sacred thread, Kuvera, King of the Yaksas, gave Him a pot for begging alms, and mother Bhagavati, the wife of Lord Siva and most chaste mother of the entire universe, gave Him His first alms.

> > *****

> > TEXT 18

> > sa brahma-varcasenaivam

> > sabhâm sambhâvito vatuh

> > brahmarsi-gana-sanjustâm

> > atyarocata mârisah

> > sah--He (Vâmanadeva); brahma-varcasena--by His Brahman effulgence; evam--in this way; sabhâm--the assembly; sambhâvitah--having been welcomed by everyone; vatuh--the brahmacârî; brahma-rsi-gana-sanjustâm--filled with great brâhmana sages; ati-arocata--surpassing, appeared beautiful; mârisah--the best of the brahmacârîs.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Having thus been welcomed by everyone, Lord Vamanadeva, the best of the brahmacaris, exhibited His Brahman effulgence. Thus He surpassed in beauty that entire assembly, which was filled with great saintly brahmanas.

> > *****

> > TEXT 19

> > samiddham âhitam vahnim

> > krtvâ parisamûhanam

> > paristîrya samabhyarcya

> > samidbhir ajuhod dvijah

> > samiddham--blazing; âhitam--being situated; vahnim--the fire; krtvâ--after making; parisamûhanam--properly; paristîrya--surpassing; samabhyarcya--after offering worship; samidbhih--with sacrificial offerings; ajuhot--completed the fire sacrifice; dvijah--the best of the brâhmanas.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After Lord Sri Vamanadeva set a sacrificial fire, He offered worship and performed a fire sacrifice on the sacrificial field.

> > *****

> > TEXT 20

> > srutvâsvamedhair yajamânam ûrjitam

> > balim bhrgûnâm upakalpitais tatah

> > jagâma tatrâkhila-sâra-sambhrto

> > bhârena gâm sannamayan pade pade

> > srutvâ--after hearing; asvamedhaih--by asvamedha sacrifices; yajamânam--the performer; ûrjitam--very glorious; balim--Bali Mahârâja; bhrgûnâm--under the guidance of the brâhmanas born in the Bhrgu dynasty; upakalpitaih--performed; tatah--from that place; jagâma--went; tatra--there; akhila-sra-sambhrtah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the essence of all creation; bhârena--with the weight; gâm--the earth; sannamayan--depressing; pade pade--at every step.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the Lord heard that Bali Maharaja was performing asvamedha sacrifices under the patronage of brahmanas belonging to the Bhrgu dynasty, the Supreme Lord, who is full in every respect, proceeded there to show His mercy to Bali Maharaja. By His weight, He pushed down the earth with every step.

> > *****

> > TEXT 21

> > tam narmadâyâs tata uttare baler

> > ya rtvijas te bhrgukaccha-samjnake

> > pravartayanto bhrgavah kratûttamam

> > vyacaksatârâd uditam yathâ ravim

> > tam--Him (Vâmanadeva); narmadâyâh--of the River Narmadâ; tate--on the bank; uttare--northern; baleh--of Mahârâja Bali; ye--who; rtvijah--the priests engaged in ritualistic ceremonies; te--all of them; bhrgukaccha-samjnake--in the field named Bhrgukaccha; pravartayantah--performing; bhrgavah--all the descendants of Bhrgu; kratu-uttamam--the most important sacrifice, named asvamedha; vyacaksata--they observed; ârât--nearby; uditam--risen; yathâ--like; ravim--the sun.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While engaged in performing the sacrifice in the field known as Bhrgukaccha, on the northern bank of the Narmada River, the brahminical priests, the descendants of Bhrgu, saw Vamanadeva to be like the sun rising nearby.

> > *****

> > TEXT 22

> > te rtvijo yajamânah sadasyâ

> > hata-tviso vâmana-tejasâ nrpa

> > sûryah kilâyâty uta vâ vibhâvasuh

> > sanat-kumâro 'tha didrksayâ kratoh

> > te--all of them; rtvijah--the priests; yajamânah--as well as Bali Mahârâja, who had engaged them in performing the yajna; sadasyâh--all the members of the assembly; hata-tvisah--decreased in their bodily effulgence; vâmana-tejasâ--by the brilliant effulgence of Lord Vâmana; nrpa--O King; sûryah--the sun; kila--whether; âyâti--is coming; uta vâ--either; vibhâvasuh--the fire-god; sanat-kumârah--the Kumâra known as Sanat-kumâra; atha--either; didrksayâ--with a desire to observe; kratoh--the sacrificial ceremony.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, because of Vamanadeva's bright effulgence, the priests, along with Bali Maharaja and all the members of the assembly, were robbed of their splendor. Thus they began to ask one another whether the sun-god himself, Sanat-kumara or the fire-god had personally come to see the sacrificial ceremony.

> > *****

> > TEXT 23

> > ittham sasisyesu bhrgusv anekadhâ

> > vitarkyamâno bhagavân sa vâmanah

> > chatram sadandam sajalam kamandalum

> > vivesa bibhrad dhayamedha-vâtam

> > ittham--in this way; sa-sisyesu--with their disciples; bhrgusu--among the Bhrgus; anekadhâ--in many ways; vitarkyamânah--being talked and argued about; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sah--that; vâmanah--Lord Vâmana; chatram--umbrella; sadandam--with the rod; sa-jalam--filled with water; kamandalum--waterpot; vivesa--entered; bibhrat--taking in hand; hayamedha--of the asvamedha sacrifice; vâtam--the arena.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While the priests of the Bhrgu dynasty and their disciples talked and argued in various ways, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vamanadeva, holding in His hands the rod, the umbrella and a waterpot full of water, entered the arena of the asvamedha sacrifice.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 24-25

> > maunjyâ mekhalayâ vîtam

> > upavîtâjinottaram

> > jatilam vâmanam vipram

> > mâyâ-mânavakam harim

> > pravistam vîksya bhrgavah

> > sasisyâs te sahâgnibhih

> > pratyagrhnan samutthâya

> > sanksiptâs tasya tejasâ

> > maunjyâ--made of munja straw; mekhalayâ--with a belt; vîtam--circled; upavîta--sacred thread; ajina-uttaram--wearing a deerskin upper garment; jatilam--having matted locks of hair; vâmanam--Lord Vâmana; vipram--a brâhmana; mâyâ-mânavakam--the illusory son of a human being; harim--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pravistam--entered; vîksya--seeing; bhrgavah--the priests who were descendants of Bhrgu; sa-sisyâh--with their disciples; te--all of them; saha-agnibhih--with the fire sacrifice; pratyagrhnan--properly welcomed; samutthâya--standing up; sanksiptâh--being diminished; tasya--His; tejasâ--by brilliance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Appearing as a brahmana boy, wearing a belt of straw, a sacred thread, an upper garment of deerskin, and matted locks of hair, Lord Vamanadeva entered the arena of sacrifice. His brilliant effulgence diminished the brilliance of all the priests and their disciples, who thus stood from their seats and welcomed the Lord properly by offering obeisances.

> > *****

> > TEXT 26

> > yajamânah pramudito

> > darsanîyam manoramam

> > rûpânurûpâvayavam

> > tasmâ âsanam âharat

> > yajamânah--Bali Mahârâja, who had engaged all the priests in performing the sacrifice; pramuditah--being very jubilant; darsanîyam--pleasing to see; manoramam--so beautiful; rûpa--with beauty; anurûpa--equal to His bodily beauty; avayavam--all the different parts of the body; tasmai--unto Him; âsanam--a sitting place; âharat--offered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bali Maharaja, jubilant at seeing Lord Vamanadeva, whose beautiful limbs contributed equally to the beauty of His entire body, offered Him a seat with great satisfaction.

> > *****

> > TEXT 27

> > svâgatenâbhinandyâtha

> > pâdau bhagavato balih

> > avanijyârcayâm âsa

> > mukta-sanga-manoramam

> > su-âgatena--by words of welcome; abhinandya--welcoming; atha--thus; pâdau--the two lotus feet; bhagavatah--of the Lord; balih--Bali Mahârâja; avanijya--washing; arcayâm âsa--worshiped; mukta-sanga-manoramam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beautiful to the liberated souls.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus offering a proper reception to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always beautiful to the liberated souls, Bali Maharaja worshiped Him by washing His lotus feet.

> > *****

> > TEXT 28

> > tat-pâda-saucam jana-kalmasâpaham

> > sa dharma-vin mûrdhny adadhât sumangalam

> > yad deva-devo girisas candra-maulir

> > dadhâra mûrdhnâ parayâ ca bhaktyâ

> > tat-pâda-saucam--the water that washed the lotus feet of the Lord; jana-kalmasa-apaham--which washes away all the sinful reactions of the people in general; sah--he (Bali Mahârâja); dharma-vit--completely aware of religious principles; mûrdhni--on the head; adadhât--carried; su-mangalam--all-auspicious; yat--which; deva-devah--the best of the demigods; girisah--Lord Siva; candra-maulih--who carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon; dadhâra--carried; mûrdhnâ--on the head; parayâ--supreme; ca--also; bhaktyâ--with devotion.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Siva, the best of demigods, who carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon, receives on his head with great devotion the Ganges water emanating from the toe of Visnu. Being aware of religious principles, Bali Maharaja knew this. Consequently, following in the footsteps of Lord Siva, he also placed on his head the water that had washed the Lord's lotus feet.

> > *****

> > TEXT 29

> > srî-balir uvâca

> > svâgatam te namas tubhyam

> > brahman kim karavâma te

> > brahmarsînâm tapah sâksân

> > manye tvârya vapur-dharam

> > srî-balih uvâca--Bali Mahârâja said; su-âgatam--all welcome; te--unto You; namah tubhyam--I offer my respectful obeisances unto You; brahman--O brâhmana; kim--what; karavâma--can we do; te--for You; brahma-rsînâm--of the great brahmana sages; tapah--austerity; sâksât--directly; manye--I think; tvâ--You; ârya--O noble one; vapuh-dharam--personified.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bali Maharaja then said to Lord Vamanadeva: O brahmana, I offer You my hearty welcome and my respectful obeisances. Please let us know what we may do for You. We think of You as the personified austerity of the great brahmana-sages.

> > *****

> > TEXT 30

> > adya nah pitaras trptâ

> > adya nah pâvitam kulam

> > adya svistah kratur ayam

> > yad bhavân âgato grhân

> > adya--today; nah--our; pitarah--forefathers; trptâh--satisfied; adya--today; nah--our; pâvitam--purified; kulam--the whole family; adya--today; su-istah--properly executed; kratuh--the sacrifice; ayam--this; yat--because; bhavân--Your Lordship; âgatah--arrived; grhân--at our residence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O my Lord, because You have kindly arrived at our home, all my forefathers are satisfied, our family and entire dynasty have been sanctified, and the sacrifice we are performing is now complete because of Your presence.

> > *****

> > TEXT 31

> > adyâgnayo me suhutâ yathâ-vidhi

> > dvijâtmaja tvac-caranâvanejanaih

> > hatâmhaso vârbhir iyam ca bhûr aho

> > tathâ punîtâ tanubhih padais tava

> > adya--today; agnayah--the sacrificial fires; me--executed by me; su-hutâh--properly offered oblations; yathâ-vidhi--in terms of the sâstric injunction; dvija-âtmaja--O son of a brâhmana; tvat-carana-avanejanaih--which washed Your lotus feet; hata-amhasah--who have become cleansed of all sinful reactions; vârbhih--by the water; iyam--this; ca--also; bhûh--the surface of the globe; aho--oh; tathâ--as well; punîtâ--sanctified; tanubhih--small; padaih--by the touch of the lotus feet; tava--Your.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O son of a brahmana, today the fire of sacrifice is ablaze according to the injunction of the sastra, and I have been freed from all the sinful reactions of my life by the water that has washed Your lotus feet. O my Lord, by the touch of Your small lotus feet the entire surface of the world has been sanctified.

> > *****

> > TEXT 32

> > yad yad vato vânchasi tat pratîccha me

> > tvâm arthinam vipra-sutânutarkaye

> > gâm kâncanam gunavad dhâma mrstam

> > tathânna-peyam uta vâ vipra-kanyâm

> > grâmân samrddhâms turagân gajân vâ

> > rathâms tathârhattama sampratîccha

> > yat yat--whatever; vato--O brahmacârî; vânchasi--You desire; tat--that; pratîccha--You may take; me--from me; tvâm--You; arthinam--desiring something; vipra-suta--O son of a brâhmana; anutarkaye--I consider; gâm--a cow; kâncanam--gold; gunavat dhâma--a furnished residence; mrstam--palatable; tathâ--as well as; anna--food grains; peyam--drink; uta--indeed; vâ--either; vipra-kanyâm--the daughter of a brâhmana; grâmân--villages; samrddhân--prosperous; turagân--horses; gajân--elephants; vâ--either; rathân--chariots; tathâ--as well as; arhat-tama--O best of those who are worshipable; sampratîccha--You may take.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O son of a brahmana, it appears that You have come here to ask me for something. Therefore, whatever You want You may take from me. O best of those who are worshipable. You may take from me a cow, gold, a furnished house, palatable food and drink, the daughter of a brahmana for Your wife, prosperous villages, horses, elephants, chariots or whatever You desire.

> > Back to the running text