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Chapter Eighteen
Lord Vamanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
This chapter describes how Lord Vamanadeva appeared and how He went to the sacrificial arena of Maharaja Bali, who received Him well and fulfilled His desire by offering Him benedictions.
Lord Vamanadeva appeared in this world from the womb of Aditi completely equipped with conchshell, disc, club and lotus. His bodily hue was blackish, and He was dressed in yellow garments. Lord Visnu appeared at an auspicious moment on Sravana-dvadasi when the Abhijit star had arisen. At that time, in all the three worlds (including the higher planetary system, outer space and this earth), all the demigods, the cows, the brahmanas and even the seasons were happy because of God's appearance. Therefore this auspicious day is called Vijaya. When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has a sac-cid-ananda body, appeared as the son of Kasyapa and Aditi, both of His parents were very astonished. After His appearance, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf (Vamana). All the great sages expressed their jubilation, and with Kasyapa Muni before them they performed the birthday ceremony of Lord Vamana. At the time of Lord Vamanadeva's sacred thread ceremony, He was honored by the sun-god, Brhaspati, the goddess presiding over the planet earth, the deity of the heavenly planets, His mother, Lord Brahma, Kuvera, the seven rsis and others. Lord Vamanadeva then visited the sacrificial arena on the northern side of the Narmada River, at the field known as Bhrgukaccha, where brahmanas of the Bhrgu dynasty were performing yajnas. Wearing a belt made of munja straw, an upper garment of deerskin and a sacred thread and carrying in His hands a danda, an umbrella and a waterpot (kamandalu), Lord Vamanadeva appeared in the sacrificial arena of Maharaja Bali. Because of His transcendentally effulgent presence, all the priests were diminished in their prowess, and thus they all stood from their seats and offered prayers to Lord Vamanadeva. Even Lord Siva accepts on his head the Ganges water generated from the toe of Lord Vamanadeva. Therefore, after washing the Lord's feet, Bali Maharaja immediately accepted the water from the Lord's feet on his head and felt that he and his predecessors had certainly been glorified. Then Bali Maharaja inquired of Lord Vamanadeva's welfare and requested the Lord to ask him for money, jewels or anything He might desire.
TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
ittham virinca-stuta-karma-viryah
pradurbabhuvamrta-bhur adityam
catur-bhujah sankha-gadabja-cakrah
pisanga-vasa nalinayateksanah
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; ittham--in this way; virinca-stuta-karma-viryah--the Personality of Godhead, whose activities and prowess are always praised by Lord Brahma; pradurbabhuva--became manifested; amrta-bhuh--whose appearance is always deathless; adityam--from the womb of Aditi; catuh-bhujah--having four arms; sankha-gada-abja-cakrah--decorated with conchshell, club, lotus and disc; pisanga-vasah--dressed in yellow garments; nalina-ayata-iksanah--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.
PURPORT
The word amrta-bhuh is significant in this verse. The Lord sometimes appears like an ordinary child taking birth, but this does not mean that He is subject to birth, death or old age. One must be very intelligent to understand the appearance and activities of the Supreme Lord in His incarnations. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (4.9): janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah. One should try to understand that the Lord's appearance and disappearance and His activities are all divyam, or transcendental. The Lord has nothing to do with material activities. One who understands the appearance, disappearance and activities of the Lord is immediately liberated. After giving up his body, he never again has to accept a material body, but is transferred to the spiritual world (tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna).
TEXT 2
TEXT
syamavadato jhasa-raja-kundala-
tvisollasac-chri-vadanambujah puman
srivatsa-vaksa balayangadollasat-
kirita-kanci-guna-caru-nupurah
SYNONYMS
syama-avadatah--whose body is blackish and free from inebriety; jhasa-raja-kundala--of the two earrings, made in the shape of sharks; tvisa--by the luster; ullasat--dazzling; sri-vadana-ambujah--having a beautiful lotus face; puman--the Supreme Person; srivatsa-vaksah--with the mark of Srivatsa on His bosom; balaya--bracelets; angada--arm bands; ullasat--dazzling; kirita--helmet; kanci--belt; guna--sacred thread; caru--beautiful; nupurah--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
TEXT
madhu-vrata-vrata-vighustaya svaya
virajitah sri-vanamalaya harih
prajapater vesma-tamah svarocisa
vinasayan kantha-nivista-kaustubhah
SYNONYMS
madhu-vrata--of bees always hankering for honey; vrata--with a bunch; vighustaya--resounding; svaya--uncommon; virajitah--situated; sri--beautiful; vana-malaya--with a flower garland; harih--the Supreme Lord; prajapateh--of Kasyapa Muni, the Prajapati; vesma-tamah--the darkness of the house; sva-rocisa--by His own effulgence; vinasayan--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
TEXT
disah praseduh salilasayas tada
prajah prahrsta rtavo gunanvitah
dyaur antariksam ksitir agni-jihva
gavo dvijah sanjahrsur nagas ca
SYNONYMS
disah--all directions; praseduh--became happy; salila--of water; asayah--the reservoirs; tada--at that time; prajah--all living entities; prahrstah--very happy; rtavah--the seasons; guna-anvitah--full of their respective qualities; dyauh--the upper planetary system; antariksam--outer space; ksitih--the surface of the earth; agni-jihvah--the demigods; gavah--the cows; dvijah--the brahmanas; sanjahrsuh--all became happy; nagah 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
TEXT
sronayam sravana-dvadasyam
muhurte 'bhijiti prabhuh
sarve naksatra-taradyas
cakrus taj-janma daksinam
SYNONYMS
sronayam--when the moon was situated in the Sravana lunar mansion; sravana-dvadasyam--on the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadra, the day famous as the Sravana-dvadasi; muhurte--in the auspicious moment; abhijiti--in the first portion of the Sravana lunar mansion known as the Abhijit-naksatra and in the Abhijit-muhurta (occurring at midday); prabhuh--the Lord; sarve--all; naksatra--stars; tara--planets; adyah--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.
PURPORT
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, an expert astrologer, explains the word naksatra-taradyah. The word naksatra means "the stars," the word tara in this context refers to the planets, and adyah means "the first one specifically mentioned." Among the planets, the first is Surya, the sun, not the moon. Therefore, according to the Vedic version, the modern astronomer's proposition that the moon is nearest to the earth should not be accepted. The chronological order in which people all over the world refer to the days of the week--Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday--corresponds to the Vedic order of the planets and thus circumstantiates the Vedic version. Apart from this, when the Lord appeared the planets and stars became situated very auspiciously, according to astrological calculations, to celebrate the birth of the Lord.
TEXT 6
TEXT
dvadasyam savitatisthan
madhyandina-gato nrpa
vijaya-nama sa prokta
yasyam janma vidur hareh
SYNONYMS
dvadasyam--on the twelfth day of the moon; savita--the sun; atisthat--was staying; madhyam-dina-gatah--on the meridian; nrpa--O King; vijaya-nama--by the name Vijaya; sa--that day; prokta--is called; yasyam--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
TEXT
sankha-dundubhayo nedur
mrdanga-panavanakah
citra-vaditra-turyanam
nirghosas tumulo 'bhavat
SYNONYMS
sankha--conchshells; dundubhayah--kettledrums; neduh--vibrated; mrdanga--drums; panava-anakah--drums named panavas and anakas; citra--various; vaditra--of these vibrations of musical sound; turyanam--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
TEXT
pritas capsaraso 'nrtyan
gandharva-pravara jaguh
tustuvur munayo deva
manavah pitaro 'gnayah
SYNONYMS
pritah--being very pleased; ca--also; apsarasah--the celestial dancing girls; anrtyan--danced; gandharva-pravarah--the best of the Gandharvas; jaguh--sang; tustuvuh--satisfied the Lord by offering prayers; munayah--the great sages; devah--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
TEXT
siddha-vidyadhara-ganah
sakimpurusa-kinnarah
carana yaksa-raksamsi
suparna bhujagottamah
gayanto 'tiprasamsanto
nrtyanto vibudhanugah
aditya asrama-padam
kusumaih samavakiran
SYNONYMS
siddha--the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; vidyadhara-ganah--the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka; sa--with; kimpurusa--the inhabitants of Kimpurusa-loka; kinnarah--the inhabitants of Kinnaraloka; caranah--the inhabitants of Caranaloka; yaksa--the Yaksas; raksamsi--the Raksasas; suparnah--the Suparnas; bhujaga-uttamah--the best of the inhabitants of the serpent loka; gayantah--glorifying the Lord; ati-prasamsantah--praising the Lord; nrtyantah--dancing; vibudhanugah--the followers of the demigods; adityah--of Aditi; asrama-padam--the place of residence; kusumaih--by flowers; samavakiran--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
TEXT
drstvaditis tam nija-garbha-sambhavam
param pumamsam mudam apa vismita
grhita-deham nija-yoga-mayaya
prajapatis caha jayeti vismitah
SYNONYMS
drstva--seeing; aditih--mother Aditi; tam--Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); nija-garbha-sambhavam--born of her own womb; param--the Supreme; pumamsam--the Personality of Godhead; mudam--great happiness; apa--conceived; vismita--being very much astonished; grhita--accepted; deham--body, or transcendental form; nija-yoga-mayaya--by His own spiritual potency; prajapatih--Kasyapa Muni; ca--also; aha--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
TEXT
yat tad vapur bhati vibhusanayudhair
avyakta-cid-vyaktam adharayad dharih
babhuva tenaiva sa vamano vatuh
sampasyator divya-gatir yatha natah
SYNONYMS
yat--which; tat--that; vapuh--transcendental body; bhati--manifests; vibhusana--with regular ornaments; ayudhaih--and with weapons; avyakta--unmanifested; cit-vyaktam--spiritually manifested; adharayat--assumed; harih--the Lord; babhuva--immediately became; tena--with that; eva--certainly; sah--He (the Lord); vamanah--dwarf; vatuh--a brahmana brahmacari; sampasyatoh--while both His father and mother were seeing; divya-gatih--whose movements are wonderful; yatha--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.
PURPORT
The word natah is significant. An actor changes dress to play different parts, but is always the same man. Similarly, as described in the Brahma-samhita (5.33, 39), the Lord assumes many thousands and millions of forms (advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam). He is always present with innumerable incarnations (ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu). Nonetheless, although He appears in various incarnations, they are not different from one another. He is the same person, with the same potency, the same eternity and the same spiritual existence, but He can simultaneously assume various forms. When Vamanadeva appeared from the womb of His mother, He appeared in the form of Narayana, with four hands equipped with the necessary symbolic weapons, and then immediately transformed Himself into a brahmacari (vatu). This means that His body is not material. One who thinks that the Supreme Lord assumes a material body is not intelligent. He has to learn more about the Lord's position. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (4.9), janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah. One has to understand the transcendental appearance of the Lord in His original transcendental body (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha).
TEXT 13
TEXT
tam vatum vamanam drstva
modamana maharsayah
karmani karayam asuh
puraskrtya prajapatim
SYNONYMS
tam--Him; vatum--the brahmacari; vamanam--dwarf; drstva--seeing; modamanah--in a happy mood; maha-rsayah--the great saintly persons; karmani--ritualistic ceremonies; karayam asuh--performed; puraskrtya--keeping in front; prajapatim--Kasyapa Muni, the Prajapati.
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.
PURPORT
According to Vedic civilization, when a child is born in the family of a brahmana, the birthday ceremony, known as jata-karma, is first performed, and then other ceremonies are also gradually performed. But when this vamana-rupa appeared in the form of a vatu, or brahmacari, His sacred thread ceremony was also performed immediately.
TEXT 14
TEXT
tasyopaniyamanasya
savitrim savitabravit
brhaspatir brahma-sutram
mekhalam kasyapo 'dadat
SYNONYMS
tasya--of Lord Vamanadeva; upaniyamanasya--at the time of His being offered the sacred thread ceremony; savitrim--the Gayatri mantra; savita--the sun-god; abravit--chanted; brhaspatih--Brhaspati, the guru of the demigods; brahma-sutram--the sacred thread; mekhalam--the belt of straw; kasyapah--Kasyapa Muni; adadat--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
TEXT
dadau krsnajinam bhumir
dandam somo vanaspatih
kaupinacchadanam mata
dyaus chatram jagatah pateh
SYNONYMS
dadau--gave, offered; krsna-ajinam--the skin of a deer; bhumih--mother earth; dandam--a brahmacari's rod; somah--the moon-god; vanah-patih--the king of the forest; kaupina--the underwear; acchadanam--covering the body; mata--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
TEXT
kamandalum veda-garbhah
kusan saptarsayo daduh
aksa-malam maharaja
sarasvaty avyayatmanah
SYNONYMS
kamandalum--a waterpot; veda-garbhah--Lord Brahma; kusan--kusa grass; sapta-rsayah--the seven sages; daduh--offered; aksa-malam--a string of Rudraksa beads; maharaja--O King; sarasvati--the goddess Sarasvati; avyaya-atmanah--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
TEXT
tasma ity upanitaya
yaksa-rat patrikam adat
bhiksam bhagavati saksad
umadad ambika sati
SYNONYMS
tasmai--unto Him (Lord Vamanadeva); iti--in this way; upanitaya--who had undergone His sacred thread ceremony; yaksa-rat--Kuvera, the treasurer of heaven and King of the Yaksas; patrikam--a pot for begging alms; adat--delivered; bhiksam--alms; bhagavati--mother Bhavani, the wife of Lord Siva; saksat--directly; uma--Uma; adat--gave; ambika--the mother of the universe; sati--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
TEXT
sa brahma-varcasenaivam
sabham sambhavito vatuh
brahmarsi-gana-sanjustam
atyarocata marisah
SYNONYMS
sah--He (Vamanadeva); brahma-varcasena--by His Brahman effulgence; evam--in this way; sabham--the assembly; sambhavitah--having been welcomed by everyone; vatuh--the brahmacari; brahma-rsi-gana-sanjustam--filled with great brahmana sages; ati-arocata--surpassing, appeared beautiful; marisah--the best of the brahmacaris.
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
TEXT
samiddham ahitam vahnim
krtva parisamuhanam
paristirya samabhyarcya
samidbhir ajuhod dvijah
SYNONYMS
samiddham--blazing; ahitam--being situated; vahnim--the fire; krtva--after making; parisamuhanam--properly; paristirya--surpassing; samabhyarcya--after offering worship; samidbhih--with sacrificial offerings; ajuhot--completed the fire sacrifice; dvijah--the best of the brahmanas.
TRANSLATION
After Lord Sri Vamanadeva set a sacrificial fire, He offered worship and performed a fire sacrifice on the sacrificial field.
TEXT 20
TEXT
srutvasvamedhair yajamanam urjitam
balim bhrgunam upakalpitais tatah
jagama tatrakhila-sara-sambhrto
bharena gam sannamayan pade pade
SYNONYMS
srutva--after hearing; asvamedhaih--by asvamedha sacrifices; yajamanam--the performer; urjitam--very glorious; balim--Bali Maharaja; bhrgunam--under the guidance of the brahmanas born in the Bhrgu dynasty; upakalpitaih--performed; tatah--from that place; jagama--went; tatra--there; akhila-sara-sambhrtah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the essence of all creation; bharena--with the weight; gam--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.
PURPORT
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is akhila-sara-sambhrta. In other words, He is the proprietor of everything essential in this material world. Thus although the Lord was going to Bali Maharaja to beg something, He is always complete and has nothing to beg from anyone. Indeed, He is so powerful that in His full opulence He pressed down the surface of the earth at every step.
TEXT 21
TEXT
tam narmadayas tata uttare baler
ya rtvijas te bhrgukaccha-samjnake
pravartayanto bhrgavah kratuttamam
vyacaksatarad uditam yatha ravim
SYNONYMS
tam--Him (Vamanadeva); narmadayah--of the River Narmada; tate--on the bank; uttare--northern; baleh--of Maharaja 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; arat--nearby; uditam--risen; yatha--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
TEXT
te rtvijo yajamanah sadasya
hata-tviso vamana-tejasa nrpa
suryah kilayaty uta va vibhavasuh
sanat-kumaro 'tha didrksaya kratoh
SYNONYMS
te--all of them; rtvijah--the priests; yajamanah--as well as Bali Maharaja, who had engaged them in performing the yajna; sadasyah--all the members of the assembly; hata-tvisah--decreased in their bodily effulgence; vamana-tejasa--by the brilliant effulgence of Lord Vamana; nrpa--O King; suryah--the sun; kila--whether; ayati--is coming; uta va--either; vibhavasuh--the fire-god; sanat-kumarah--the Kumara known as Sanat-kumara; atha--either; didrksaya--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
TEXT
ittham sasisyesu bhrgusv anekadha
vitarkyamano bhagavan sa vamanah
chatram sadandam sajalam kamandalum
vivesa bibhrad dhayamedha-vatam
SYNONYMS
ittham--in this way; sa-sisyesu--with their disciples; bhrgusu--among the Bhrgus; anekadha--in many ways; vitarkyamanah--being talked and argued about; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sah--that; vamanah--Lord Vamana; chatram--umbrella; sadandam--with the rod; sa-jalam--filled with water; kamandalum--waterpot; vivesa--entered; bibhrat--taking in hand; hayamedha--of the asvamedha sacrifice; vatam--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
TEXT
maunjya mekhalaya vitam
upavitajinottaram
jatilam vamanam vipram
maya-manavakam harim
pravistam viksya bhrgavah
sasisyas te sahagnibhih
pratyagrhnan samutthaya
sanksiptas tasya tejasa
SYNONYMS
maunjya--made of munja straw; mekhalaya--with a belt; vitam--circled; upavita--sacred thread; ajina-uttaram--wearing a deerskin upper garment; jatilam--having matted locks of hair; vamanam--Lord Vamana; vipram--a brahmana; maya-manavakam--the illusory son of a human being; harim--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pravistam--entered; viksya--seeing; bhrgavah--the priests who were descendants of Bhrgu; sa-sisyah--with their disciples; te--all of them; saha-agnibhih--with the fire sacrifice; pratyagrhnan--properly welcomed; samutthaya--standing up; sanksiptah--being diminished; tasya--His; tejasa--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
TEXT
yajamanah pramudito
darsaniyam manoramam
rupanurupavayavam
tasma asanam aharat
SYNONYMS
yajamanah--Bali Maharaja, who had engaged all the priests in performing the sacrifice; pramuditah--being very jubilant; darsaniyam--pleasing to see; manoramam--so beautiful; rupa--with beauty; anurupa--equal to His bodily beauty; avayavam--all the different parts of the body; tasmai--unto Him; asanam--a sitting place; aharat--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
TEXT
svagatenabhinandyatha
padau bhagavato balih
avanijyarcayam asa
mukta-sanga-manoramam
SYNONYMS
su-agatena--by words of welcome; abhinandya--welcoming; atha--thus; padau--the two lotus feet; bhagavatah--of the Lord; balih--Bali Maharaja; avanijya--washing; arcayam asa--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
TEXT
tat-pada-saucam jana-kalmasapaham
sa dharma-vin murdhny adadhat sumangalam
yad deva-devo girisas candra-maulir
dadhara murdhna paraya ca bhaktya
SYNONYMS
tat-pada-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 Maharaja); dharma-vit--completely aware of religious principles; murdhni--on the head; adadhat--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; dadhara--carried; murdhna--on the head; paraya--supreme; ca--also; bhaktya--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.
PURPORT
Lord Siva is known as Ganga-dhara, or one who carries the water of the Ganges on his head. On Lord Siva's forehead is the emblem of the half-moon, yet to give supreme respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Siva placed the water of the Ganges above this emblem. This example should be followed by everyone, or at least by every devotee, because Lord Siva is one of the mahajanas. Similarly, Maharaja Bali also later became a mahajana. One mahajana follows another mahajana, and by following the parampara system of mahajana activities one can become advanced in spiritual consciousness. The water of the Ganges is sanctified because it emanates from the toe of Lord Visnu. Bali Maharaja washed the lotus feet of Vamanadeva, and the water with which he did so became equal to the Ganges. Bali Maharaja, who perfectly knew all religious principles, therefore took that water on his head, following in the footsteps of Lord Siva.
TEXT 29
TEXT
sri-balir uvaca
svagatam te namas tubhyam
brahman kim karavama te
brahmarsinam tapah saksan
manye tvarya vapur-dharam
SYNONYMS
sri-balih uvaca--Bali Maharaja said; su-agatam--all welcome; te--unto You; namah tubhyam--I offer my respectful obeisances unto You; brahman--O brahmana; kim--what; karavama--can we do; te--for You; brahma-rsinam--of the great brahmana sages; tapah--austerity; saksat--directly; manye--I think; tva--You; arya--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
TEXT
adya nah pitaras trpta
adya nah pavitam kulam
adya svistah kratur ayam
yad bhavan agato grhan
SYNONYMS
adya--today; nah--our; pitarah--forefathers; trptah--satisfied; adya--today; nah--our; pavitam--purified; kulam--the whole family; adya--today; su-istah--properly executed; kratuh--the sacrifice; ayam--this; yat--because; bhavan--Your Lordship; agatah--arrived; grhan--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
TEXT
adyagnayo me suhuta yatha-vidhi
dvijatmaja tvac-caranavanejanaih
hatamhaso varbhir iyam ca bhur aho
tatha punita tanubhih padais tava
SYNONYMS
adya--today; agnayah--the sacrificial fires; me--executed by me; su-hutah--properly offered oblations; yatha-vidhi--in terms of the sastric injunction; dvija-atmaja--O son of a brahmana; tvat-carana-avanejanaih--which washed Your lotus feet; hata-amhasah--who have become cleansed of all sinful reactions; varbhih--by the water; iyam--this; ca--also; bhuh--the surface of the globe; aho--oh; tatha--as well; punita--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
TEXT
yad yad vato vanchasi tat praticcha me
tvam arthinam vipra-sutanutarkaye
gam kancanam gunavad dhama mrstam
tathanna-peyam uta va vipra-kanyam
graman samrddhams turagan gajan va
rathams tatharhattama sampraticcha
SYNONYMS
yat yat--whatever; vato--O brahmacari; vanchasi--You desire; tat--that; praticcha--You may take; me--from me; tvam--You; arthinam--desiring something; vipra-suta--O son of a brahmana; anutarkaye--I consider; gam--a cow; kancanam--gold; gunavat dhama--a furnished residence; mrstam--palatable; tatha--as well as; anna--food grains; peyam--drink; uta--indeed; va--either; vipra-kanyam--the daughter of a brahmana; graman--villages; samrddhan--prosperous; turagan--horses; gajan--elephants; va--either; rathan--chariots; tatha--as well as; arhat-tama--O best of those who are worshipable; sampraticcha--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.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Lord Vamanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation."