Śrīmad Bhāgavatam |Canto 8 Chapter 18

Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

VERSE 8.18.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

itthaṁ viriñca-stuta-karma-vīryaḥ
prādurbabhūvāmṛta-bhūr adityām
catur-bhujaḥ śaṅkha-gadābja-cakraḥ
piśaṅga-vāsā nalināyatekṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ittham — in this way; viriñca-stuta-karma-vīryaḥ — the Personality of Godhead, whose activities and prowess are always praised by Lord Brahmā; prādurbabhūva — became manifested; amṛta-bhūḥ — whose appearance is always deathless; adityām — from the womb of Aditi; catuḥ-bhujaḥ — having four arms; śaṅkha-gadā-abja-cakraḥ — decorated with conchshell, club, lotus and disc; piśaṅga-vāsāḥ — dressed in yellow garments; nalina-āyata-īkṣaṇaḥ — having blooming eyes like the petals of a lotus.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After Lord Brahmā 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.

VERSE 8.18.2

śyāmāvadāto jhaṣa-rāja-kuṇḍala-
tviṣollasac-chrī-vadanāmbujaḥ pumān
śrīvatsa-vakṣā balayāṅgadollasat-
kirīṭa-kāñcī-guṇa-cāru-nūpuraḥ

SYNONYMS

śyāma-avadātaḥ — whose body is blackish and free from inebriety; jhaṣa-rāja-kuṇḍala — of the two earrings, made in the shape of sharks; tviṣā — by the luster; ullasat — dazzling; śrī-vadana-ambujaḥ — having a beautiful lotus face; pumān — the Supreme Person; śrīvatsa-vakṣāḥ — with the mark of Śrīvatsa on His bosom; balaya — bracelets; aṅgada — arm bands; ullasat — dazzling; kirīṭa — helmet; kāñcī — belt; guṇa — sacred thread; cāru — beautiful; nūpuraḥ — 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 Śrīvatsa. 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.

VERSE 8.18.3

madhu-vrata-vrāta-vighuṣṭayā svayā
virājitaḥ śrī-vanamālayā hariḥ
prajāpater veśma-tamaḥ svarociṣā
vināśayan kaṇṭha-niviṣṭa-kaustubhaḥ

SYNONYMS

madhu-vrata — of bees always hankering for honey; vrāta — with a bunch; vighuṣṭayā — resounding; svayā — uncommon; virājitaḥ — situated; śrī — beautiful; vana-mālayā — with a flower garland; hariḥ — the Supreme Lord; prajāpateḥ — of Kaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati; veśma-tamaḥ — the darkness of the house; sva-rociṣā — by His own effulgence; vināśayan — vanquishing; kaṇṭha — on the neck; niviṣṭa — worn; kaustubhaḥ — 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 Prajāpati Kaśyapa.

VERSE 8.18.4

diśaḥ praseduḥ salilāśayās tadā
prajāḥ prahṛṣṭā ṛtavo guṇānvitāḥ
dyaur antarīkṣaṁ kṣitir agni-jihvā
gāvo dvijāḥ sañjahṛṣur nagāś ca

SYNONYMS

diśaḥ — all directions; praseduḥ — became happy; salila — of water; āśayāḥ — the reservoirs; tadā — at that time; prajāḥ — all living entities; prahṛṣṭāḥ — very happy; ṛtavaḥ — the seasons; guṇa-anvitāḥ — full of their respective qualities; dyauḥ — the upper planetary system; antarīkṣam — outer space; kṣitiḥ — the surface of the earth; agni-jihvāḥ — the demigods; gāvaḥ — the cows; dvijāḥ — the brāhmaṇas; sañjahṛṣuḥ — all became happy; nagāḥ 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 brāhmaṇas and the hills and mountains were all filled with joy.

VERSE 8.18.5

śroṇāyāṁ śravaṇa-dvādaśyāṁ
muhūrte ’bhijiti prabhuḥ
sarve nakṣatra-tārādyāś
cakrus taj-janma dakṣiṇam

SYNONYMS

śroṇāyām — when the moon was situated in the Śravaṇa lunar mansion; śravaṇa-dvādaśyām — on the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra, the day famous as the Śravaṇa-dvādaśī; muhūrte — in the auspicious moment; abhijiti — in the first portion of the Śravaṇa lunar mansion known as the Abhijit-nakṣatra and in the Abhijit-muhūrta (occurring at midday); prabhuḥ — the Lord; sarve — all; nakṣatra — stars; tārā — planets; ādyāḥ — beginning with the sun and followed by the other planets; cakruḥ — made; tat-janma — the birthday of the Lord; dakṣiṇam — very munificent.

TRANSLATION

On the day of Śravaṇa-dvādaśī [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Śravaṇa, 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.

VERSE 8.18.6

dvādaśyāṁ savitātiṣṭhan
madhyandina-gato nṛpa
vijayā-nāma sā proktā
yasyāṁ janma vidur hareḥ

SYNONYMS

dvādaśyām — on the twelfth day of the moon; savitā — the sun; atiṣṭhat — was staying; madhyam-dina-gataḥ — on the meridian; nṛpa — O King; vijayā-nāma — by the name Vijayā; — that day; proktā — is called; yasyām — on which; janma — the appearance; viduḥ — they know; hareḥ — of Lord Hari.

TRANSLATION

O King, when the Lord appeared — on dvādaśī, the twelfth day of the moon — the sun was at the meridian, as every learned scholar knows. This dvādaśī is called Vijayā.

VERSE 8.18.7

śaṅkha-dundubhayo nedur
mṛdaṅga-paṇavānakāḥ
citra-vāditra-tūryāṇāṁ
nirghoṣas tumulo ’bhavat

SYNONYMS

śaṅkha — conchshells; dundubhayaḥ — kettledrums; neduḥ — vibrated; mṛdaṅga — drums; paṇava-ānakāḥ — drums named paṇavas and ānakas; citra — various; vāditra — of these vibrations of musical sound; tūryāṇām — and of other instruments; nirghoṣaḥ — the loud sound; tumulaḥ — tumultuous; abhavat — became.

TRANSLATION

Conchshells, kettledrums, drums, paṇavas and ānakas vibrated in concert. The sound of these and various other instruments was tumultuous.

VERSE 8.18.8

prītāś cāpsaraso ’nṛtyan
gandharva-pravarā jaguḥ
tuṣṭuvur munayo devā
manavaḥ pitaro ’gnayaḥ

SYNONYMS

prītāḥ — being very pleased; ca — also; apsarasaḥ — the celestial dancing girls; anṛtyan — danced; gandharva-pravarāḥ — the best of the Gandharvas; jaguḥ — sang; tuṣṭuvuḥ — satisfied the Lord by offering prayers; munayaḥ — the great sages; devāḥ — the demigods; manavaḥ — the Manus; pitaraḥ — the inhabitants of Pitṛloka; agnayaḥ — the fire-gods.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 8.18.9-10

siddha-vidyādhara-gaṇāḥ
sakimpuruṣa-kinnarāḥ
cāraṇā yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi
suparṇā bhujagottamāḥ

gāyanto ’tipraśaṁsanto
nṛtyanto vibudhānugāḥ
adityā āśrama-padaṁ
kusumaiḥ samavākiran

SYNONYMS

siddha — the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; vidyādhara-gaṇāḥ — the inhabitants of Vidyādhara-loka; sa — with; kimpuruṣa — the inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-loka; kinnarāḥ — the inhabitants of Kinnaraloka; cāraṇāḥ — the inhabitants of Cāraṇaloka; yakṣa — the Yakṣas; rakṣāṁsi — the Rākṣasas; suparṇāḥ — the Suparṇas; bhujaga-uttamāḥ — the best of the inhabitants of the serpent loka; gāyantaḥ — glorifying the Lord; ati-praśaṁsantaḥ — praising the Lord; nṛtyantaḥ — dancing; vibudha-anugāḥ — the followers of the demigods; adityāḥ — of Aditi; āśrama-padam — the place of residence; kusumaiḥ — by flowers; samavākiran — covered.

TRANSLATION

The Siddhas, Vidyādharas, Kimpuruṣas, Kinnaras, Cāraṇas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Suparṇas, 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.

VERSE 8.18.11

dṛṣṭvāditis taṁ nija-garbha-sambhavaṁ
paraṁ pumāṁsaṁ mudam āpa vismitā
gṛhīta-dehaṁ nija-yoga-māyayā
prajāpatiś cāha jayeti vismitaḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; aditiḥ — mother Aditi; tam — Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); nija-garbha-sambhavam — born of her own womb; param — the Supreme; pumāṁsam — the Personality of Godhead; mudam — great happiness; āpa — conceived; vismitā — being very much astonished; gṛhīta — accepted; deham — body, or transcendental form; nija-yoga-māyayā — by His own spiritual potency; prajāpatiḥ — Kaśyapa Muni; ca — also; āha — said; jaya — all glories; iti — thus; vismitaḥ — 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, Prajāpati Kaśyapa exclaimed, “Jaya! Jaya!” in great happiness and wonder.

VERSE 8.18.12

yat tad vapur bhāti vibhūṣaṇāyudhair
avyakta-cid-vyaktam adhārayad dhariḥ
babhūva tenaiva sa vāmano vaṭuḥ
sampaśyator divya-gatir yathā naṭaḥ

SYNONYMS

yat — which; tat — that; vapuḥ — transcendental body; bhāti — manifests; vibhūṣaṇa — with regular ornaments; āyudhaiḥ — and with weapons; avyakta — unmanifested; cit-vyaktam — spiritually manifested; adhārayat — assumed; hariḥ — the Lord; babhūva — immediately became; tena — with that; eva — certainly; saḥ — He (the Lord); vāmanaḥ — dwarf; vaṭuḥ — a brāhmaṇa brahmacārī; sampaśyatoḥ — while both His father and mother were seeing; divya-gatiḥ — whose movements are wonderful; yathā — as; naṭaḥ — 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 Vāmana, a brāhmaṇa-dwarf, a brahmacārī, just like a theatrical actor.

VERSE 8.18.13

taṁ vaṭuṁ vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā
modamānā maharṣayaḥ
karmāṇi kārayām āsuḥ
puraskṛtya prajāpatim

SYNONYMS

tam — Him; vaṭum — the brahmacārī; vāmanam — dwarf; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; modamānāḥ — in a happy mood; mahā-ṛṣayaḥ — the great saintly persons; karmāṇi — ritualistic ceremonies; kārayām āsuḥ — performed; puraskṛtya — keeping in front; prajāpatim — Kaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati.

TRANSLATION

When the great sages saw the Lord as the brahmacārī-dwarf Vāmana, they were certainly very pleased. Thus they placed before them Kaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati, and performed all the ritualistic ceremonies, such as the birthday ceremony.

VERSE 8.18.14

tasyopanīyamānasya
sāvitrīṁ savitābravīt
bṛhaspatir brahma-sūtraṁ
mekhalāṁ kaśyapo ’dadāt

SYNONYMS

tasya — of Lord Vāmanadeva; upanīyamānasya — at the time of His being offered the sacred thread ceremony; sāvitrīm — the Gāyatrī mantra; savitā — the sun-god; abravīt — chanted; bṛhaspatiḥ — Bṛhaspati, the guru of the demigods; brahma-sūtram — the sacred thread; mekhalām — the belt of straw; kaśyapaḥ — Kaśyapa Muni; adadāt — offered.

TRANSLATION

At the sacred thread ceremony of Vāmanadeva, the sun-god personally uttered the Gāyatrī mantra, Bṛhaspati offered the sacred thread, and Kaśyapa Muni offered a straw belt.

VERSE 8.18.15

dadau kṛṣṇājinaṁ bhūmir
daṇḍaṁ somo vanaspatiḥ
kaupīnācchādanaṁ mātā
dyauś chatraṁ jagataḥ pateḥ

SYNONYMS

dadau — gave, offered; kṛṣṇa-ajinam — the skin of a deer; bhūmiḥ — mother earth; daṇḍam — a brahmacārī’s rod; somaḥ — the moon-god; vanaḥ-patiḥ — the king of the forest; kaupīna — the underwear; ācchādanam — covering the body; mātā — His mother, Aditi; dyauḥ — the heavenly kingdom; chatram — an umbrella; jagataḥ — of the whole universe; pateḥ — 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-daṇḍa [the rod of a brahmacārī]. His mother, Aditi, gave Him cloth for underwear, and the deity presiding over the heavenly kingdom offered Him an umbrella.

VERSE 8.18.16

kamaṇḍaluṁ veda-garbhaḥ
kuśān saptarṣayo daduḥ
akṣa-mālāṁ mahārāja
sarasvaty avyayātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

kamaṇḍalum — a waterpot; veda-garbhaḥ — Lord Brahmā; kuśān — kuśa grass; sapta-ṛṣayaḥ — the seven sages; daduḥ — offered; akṣa-mālām — a string of Rudrākṣa beads; mahārāja — O King; sarasvatī — the goddess Sarasvatī; avyaya-ātmanaḥ — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

O King, Lord Brahmā offered a waterpot to the inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead, the seven sages offered Him kuśa grass, and mother Sarasvatī gave Him a string of Rudrākṣa beads.

VERSE 8.18.17

tasmā ity upanītāya
yakṣa-rāṭ pātrikām adāt
bhikṣāṁ bhagavatī sākṣād
umādād ambikā satī

SYNONYMS

tasmai — unto Him (Lord Vāmanadeva); iti — in this way; upanītāya — who had undergone His sacred thread ceremony; yakṣa-rāṭ — Kuvera, the treasurer of heaven and King of the Yakṣas; pātrikām — a pot for begging alms; adāt — delivered; bhikṣām — alms; bhagavatī — mother Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva; sākṣāt — directly; umā — Umā; adāt — gave; ambikā — the mother of the universe; satī — the chaste.

TRANSLATION

When Vāmanadeva had thus been given the sacred thread, Kuvera, King of the Yakṣas, gave Him a pot for begging alms, and mother Bhagavatī, the wife of Lord Śiva and most chaste mother of the entire universe, gave Him His first alms.

VERSE 8.18.18

sa brahma-varcasenaivaṁ
sabhāṁ sambhāvito vaṭuḥ
brahmarṣi-gaṇa-sañjuṣṭām
atyarocata māriṣaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ — He (Vāmanadeva); brahma-varcasena — by His Brahman effulgence; evam — in this way; sabhām — the assembly; sambhāvitaḥ — having been welcomed by everyone; vaṭuḥ — the brahmacārī; brahma-ṛṣi-gaṇa-sañjuṣṭām — filled with great brāhmaṇa sages; ati-arocata — surpassing, appeared beautiful; māriṣaḥ — the best of the brahmacārīs.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 8.18.19

samiddham āhitaṁ vahniṁ
kṛtvā parisamūhanam
paristīrya samabhyarcya
samidbhir ajuhod dvijaḥ

SYNONYMS

samiddham — blazing; āhitam — being situated; vahnim — the fire; kṛtvā — after making; parisamūhanam — properly; paristīrya — surpassing; samabhyarcya — after offering worship; samidbhiḥ — with sacrificial offerings; ajuhot — completed the fire sacrifice; dvijaḥ — the best of the brāhmaṇas.

TRANSLATION

After Lord Śrī Vāmanadeva set a sacrificial fire, He offered worship and performed a fire sacrifice on the sacrificial field.

VERSE 8.18.20

śrutvāśvamedhair yajamānam ūrjitaṁ
baliṁ bhṛgūṇām upakalpitais tataḥ
jagāma tatrākhila-sāra-sambhṛto
bhāreṇa gāṁ sannamayan pade pade

SYNONYMS

śrutvā — after hearing; aśvamedhaiḥ — by aśvamedha sacrifices; yajamānam — the performer; ūrjitam — very glorious; balim — Bali Mahārāja; bhṛgūṇām — under the guidance of the brāhmaṇas born in the Bhṛgu dynasty; upakalpitaiḥ — performed; tataḥ — from that place; jagāma — went; tatra — there; akhila-sāra-sambhṛtaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the essence of all creation; bhāreṇa — with the weight; gām — the earth; sannamayan — depressing; pade pade — at every step.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 8.18.21

taṁ narmadāyās taṭa uttare baler
ya ṛtvijas te bhṛgukaccha-saṁjñake
pravartayanto bhṛgavaḥ kratūttamaṁ
vyacakṣatārād uditaṁ yathā ravim

SYNONYMS

tam — Him (Vāmanadeva); narmadāyāḥ — of the river Narmadā; taṭe — on the bank; uttare — northern; baleḥ — of Mahārāja Bali; ye — who; ṛtvijaḥ — the priests engaged in ritualistic ceremonies; te — all of them; bhṛgukaccha-saṁjñake — in the field named Bhṛgukaccha; pravartayantaḥ — performing; bhṛgavaḥ — all the descendants of Bhṛgu; kratu-uttamam — the most important sacrifice, named aśvamedha; vyacakṣata — they observed; ārāt — nearby; uditam — risen; yathā — like; ravim — the sun.

TRANSLATION

While engaged in performing the sacrifice in the field known as Bhṛgukaccha, on the northern bank of the Narmadā River, the brahminical priests, the descendants of Bhṛgu, saw Vāmanadeva to be like the sun rising nearby.

VERSE 8.18.22

te ṛtvijo yajamānaḥ sadasyā
hata-tviṣo vāmana-tejasā nṛpa
sūryaḥ kilāyāty uta vā vibhāvasuḥ
sanat-kumāro ’tha didṛkṣayā kratoḥ

SYNONYMS

te — all of them; ṛtvijaḥ — the priests; yajamānaḥ — as well as Bali Mahārāja, who had engaged them in performing the yajña; sadasyāḥ — all the members of the assembly; hata-tviṣaḥ — decreased in their bodily effulgence; vāmana-tejasā — by the brilliant effulgence of Lord Vāmana; nṛpa — O King; sūryaḥ — the sun; kila — whether; āyāti — is coming; uta — either; vibhāvasuḥ — the fire-god; sanat-kumāraḥ — the Kumāra known as Sanat-kumāra; atha — either; didṛkṣayā — with a desire to observe; kratoḥ — the sacrificial ceremony.

TRANSLATION

O King, because of Vāmanadeva’s bright effulgence, the priests, along with Bali Mahārāja 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-kumāra or the fire-god had personally come to see the sacrificial ceremony.

VERSE 8.18.23

itthaṁ saśiṣyeṣu bhṛguṣv anekadhā
vitarkyamāṇo bhagavān sa vāmanaḥ
chatraṁ sadaṇḍaṁ sajalaṁ kamaṇḍaluṁ
viveśa bibhrad dhayamedha-vāṭam

SYNONYMS

ittham — in this way; sa-śiṣyeṣu — with their disciples; bhṛguṣu — among the Bhṛgus; anekadhā — in many ways; vitarkyamāṇaḥ — being talked and argued about; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; saḥ — that; vāmanaḥ — Lord Vāmana; chatram — umbrella; sa-daṇḍam — with the rod; sa-jalam — filled with water; kamaṇḍalum — waterpot; viveśa — entered; bibhrat — taking in hand; hayamedha — of the aśvamedha sacrifice; vāṭam — the arena.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 8.18.24-25

mauñjyā mekhalayā vītam
upavītājinottaram
jaṭilaṁ vāmanaṁ vipraṁ
māyā-māṇavakaṁ harim

praviṣṭaṁ vīkṣya bhṛgavaḥ
saśiṣyās te sahāgnibhiḥ
pratyagṛhṇan samutthāya
saṅkṣiptās tasya tejasā

SYNONYMS

mauñjyā — made of muñja straw; mekhalayā — with a belt; vītam — circled; upavīta — sacred thread; ajina-uttaram — wearing a deerskin upper garment; jaṭilam — having matted locks of hair; vāmanam — Lord Vāmana; vipram — a brāhmaṇa; māyā-māṇavakam — the illusory son of a human being; harim — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; praviṣṭam — entered; vīkṣya — seeing; bhṛgavaḥ — the priests who were descendants of Bhṛgu; sa-śiṣyāḥ — with their disciples; te — all of them; saha-agnibhiḥ — with the fire sacrifice; pratyagṛhṇan — properly welcomed; samutthāya — standing up; saṅkṣiptāḥ — being diminished; tasya — His; tejasā — by brilliance.

TRANSLATION

Appearing as a brāhmaṇa boy, wearing a belt of straw, a sacred thread, an upper garment of deerskin, and matted locks of hair, Lord Vāmanadeva 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.

VERSE 8.18.26

yajamānaḥ pramudito
darśanīyaṁ manoramam
rūpānurūpāvayavaṁ
tasmā āsanam āharat

SYNONYMS

yajamānaḥ — Bali Mahārāja, who had engaged all the priests in performing the sacrifice; pramuditaḥ — being very jubilant; darśanīyam — pleasing to see; manoramam — so beautiful; rūpa — with beauty; anurūpa — equal to His bodily beauty; avayavam — all the different parts of the body; tasmai — unto Him; āsanam — a sitting place; āharat — offered.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 8.18.27

svāgatenābhinandyātha
pādau bhagavato baliḥ
avanijyārcayām āsa
mukta-saṅga-manoramam

SYNONYMS

su-āgatena — by words of welcome; abhinandya — welcoming; atha — thus; pādau — the two lotus feet; bhagavataḥ — of the Lord; baliḥ — Bali Mahārāja; avanijya — washing; arcayām āsa — worshiped; mukta-saṅga-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 Mahārāja worshiped Him by washing His lotus feet.

VERSE 8.18.28

tat-pāda-śaucaṁ jana-kalmaṣāpahaṁ
sa dharma-vin mūrdhny adadhāt sumaṅgalam
yad deva-devo giriśaś candra-maulir
dadhāra mūrdhnā parayā ca bhaktyā

SYNONYMS

tat-pāda-śaucam — the water that washed the lotus feet of the Lord; jana-kalmaṣa-apaham — which washes away all the sinful reactions of the people in general; saḥ — he (Bali Mahārāja); dharma-vit — completely aware of religious principles; mūrdhni — on the head; adadhāt — carried; su-maṅgalam — all-auspicious; yat — which; deva-devaḥ — the best of the demigods; giriśaḥ — Lord Śiva; candra-mauliḥ — who carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon; dadhāra — carried; mūrdhnā — on the head; parayā — supreme; ca — also; bhaktyā — with devotion.

TRANSLATION

Lord Śiva, 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 Viṣṇu. Being aware of religious principles, Bali Mahārāja knew this. Consequently, following in the footsteps of Lord Śiva, he also placed on his head the water that had washed the Lord’s lotus feet.

VERSE 8.18.29

śrī-balir uvāca

svāgataṁ te namas tubhyaṁ
brahman kiṁ karavāma te
brahmarṣīṇāṁ tapaḥ sākṣān
manye tvārya vapur-dharam

SYNONYMS

śrī-baliḥ uvāca — Bali Mahārāja said; su-āgatam — all welcome; te — unto You; namaḥ tubhyam — I offer my respectful obeisances unto You; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; kim — what; karavāma — can we do; te — for You; brahma-ṛṣīṇām — of the great brāhmaṇa sages; tapaḥ — austerity; sākṣāt — directly; manye — I think; tvā — You; ārya — O noble one; vapuḥ-dharam — personified.

TRANSLATION

Bali Mahārāja then said to Lord Vāmanadeva: O brāhmaṇa, 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 brāhmaṇa-sages.

VERSE 8.18.30

adya naḥ pitaras tṛptā
adya naḥ pāvitaṁ kulam
adya sviṣṭaḥ kratur ayaṁ
yad bhavān āgato gṛhān

SYNONYMS

adya — today; naḥ — our; pitaraḥ — forefathers; tṛptāḥ — satisfied; adya — today; naḥ — our; pāvitam — purified; kulam — the whole family; adya — today; su-iṣṭaḥ — properly executed; kratuḥ — the sacrifice; ayam — this; yat — because; bhavān — Your Lordship; āgataḥ — arrived; gṛhān — 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.

VERSE 8.18.31

adyāgnayo me suhutā yathā-vidhi
dvijātmaja tvac-caraṇāvanejanaiḥ
hatāṁhaso vārbhir iyaṁ ca bhūr aho
tathā punītā tanubhiḥ padais tava

SYNONYMS

adya — today; agnayaḥ — the sacrificial fires; me — executed by me; su-hutāḥ — properly offered oblations; yathā-vidhi — in terms of the śāstric injunction; dvija-ātmaja — O son of a brāhmaṇa; tvat-caraṇa-avanejanaiḥ — which washed Your lotus feet; hata-aṁhasaḥ — who have become cleansed of all sinful reactions; vārbhiḥ — by the water; iyam — this; ca — also; bhūḥ — the surface of the globe; aho — oh; tathā — as well; punītā — sanctified; tanubhiḥ — small; padaiḥ — by the touch of the lotus feet; tava — Your.

TRANSLATION

O son of a brāhmaṇa, today the fire of sacrifice is ablaze according to the injunction of the śāstra, 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.

VERSE 8.18.32

yad yad vaṭo vāñchasi tat pratīccha me
tvām arthinaṁ vipra-sutānutarkaye
gāṁ kāñcanaṁ guṇavad dhāma mṛṣṭaṁ
tathānna-peyam uta vā vipra-kanyām
grāmān samṛddhāṁs turagān gajān vā
rathāṁs tathārhattama sampratīccha

SYNONYMS

yat yat — whatever; vaṭo — O brahmacārī; vāñchasi — You desire; tat — that; pratīccha — You may take; me — from me; tvām — You; arthinam — desiring something; vipra-suta — O son of a brāhmaṇa; anutarkaye — I consider; gām — a cow; kāñcanam — gold; guṇavat dhāma — a furnished residence; mṛṣṭam — palatable; tathā — as well as; anna — food grains; peyam — drink; uta — indeed; — either; vipra-kanyām — the daughter of a brāhmaṇa; grāmān — villages; samṛddhān — prosperous; turagān — horses; gajān — elephants; — either; rathān — chariots; tathā — as well as; arhat-tama — O best of those who are worshipable; sampratīccha — You may take.

TRANSLATION

O son of a brāhmaṇa, 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 brāhmaṇa for Your wife, prosperous villages, horses, elephants, chariots or whatever You desire.