Avatar 5 of 10 · Treta Yuga · त्रेता युग
Vamana Avatar · The Dwarf
वामन अवतार · वामन
A small, bright-faced boy who asked King Bali for just three steps of land, and in three strides measured the whole universe.
तेजस्वी मुख वाला एक छोटा बालक जिसने राजा बलि से केवल तीन पग भूमि माँगी, और तीन पगों में पूरे ब्रह्मांड को नाप लिया।
The story of Vamana · वामन की कथा
Three Small Steps
King Bali, grandson of Prahlada, was generous and brave, but his power had grown too great. He had taken all three worlds, and the gods were left homeless. Aditi, their mother, prayed for help, and Vishnu was born to her as a small boy named Vamana.
Bali was holding a great sacrifice, and it was known that on such a day he refused no one. A short young brahmin arrived, carrying an umbrella and a water pot, his face as bright as the sun. Bali welcomed him warmly. “Ask for anything,” he said. “Villages, gold, elephants, a kingdom.”
“I need only a little,” said the boy. “Give me as much land as I can cover in three of my own steps.”
The king laughed at such a small request. But his teacher, Shukracharya, pulled him aside and whispered, “This is no ordinary boy. It is Vishnu himself. Take back your word.”
Bali was quiet for a moment. “If it is truly the Lord who stands before me asking,” he said, “then I am more fortunate than any king. I will not break my promise.” He poured the water that sealed the gift.
At once the boy began to grow. With his first step he covered the whole earth. With his second he crossed the heavens. There was no place left for the third. Bali bowed his head. “Place your third step here, Lord. It is all I have left to give.”
Moved by his honesty and surrender, Vishnu blessed him and made him king of Sutala, a realm more beautiful than heaven, and promised to stand guard at his door himself.
The lesson
Keep your word even when it costs you everything; humility makes you greater than any kingdom.
Story: Retold from the Bhagavata Purana (8.15–8.23)
In the scriptures · शास्त्रों में
The original verses, with their romanisation and our own English and Hindi translation.
पञ्चदशं वामनकं कृत्वागादध्वरं बलेः । पदत्रयं याचमानः प्रत्यादित्सुस्त्रिपिष्टपम् ॥
pañcadaśaṃ vāmanakaṃ kṛtvāgādadhvaraṃ baleḥ padatrayaṃ yācamānaḥ pratyāditsustripiṣṭapam
In His fifteenth descent He became the little Vamana and went to Bali’s sacrifice, asking for just three steps of land, intending to win back the three worlds.
पंद्रहवें अवतार में वे छोटे वामन बनकर बलि के यज्ञ में गए और केवल तीन पग भूमि माँगी, ताकि तीनों लोक लौटा सकें।
इदं विष्णुर्वि चक्रमे त्रेधा नि दधे पदम् । समूळ्हमस्य पांसुरे ॥
idaṃ viṣṇurvi cakrame tredhā ni dadhe padam samūḷhamasya pāṃsure
Vishnu strode across all this. Three times he set down his foot, and the whole world is gathered in his dusty footprint.
विष्णु ने इस सबको पार किया। तीन बार उन्होंने अपना पग रखा, और सारा संसार उनके धूल भरे पदचिह्न में समाया है।
छलयसि विक्रमणे बलिमद्भुतवामन । पदनखनीरजनितजनपावन ॥ केशव धृतवामनरूप जय जगदीश हरे ॥
chalayasi vikramaṇe balimadbhutavāmana padanakhanīrajanitajanapāvana keśava dhṛtavāmanarūpa jaya jagadīśa hare
With your wondrous stride, O marvellous Vamana, you outwit Bali, and the water that flows from your toenail purifies all people. O Keshava, who took the form of the dwarf: victory to you, Hari, lord of the world!
हे अद्भुत वामन, अपने पगों से आप बलि को छलते हैं, और आपके पद-नख से निकला जल सब लोगों को पवित्र करता है। हे केशव, वामन रूप धारण करने वाले जगदीश हरि, आपकी जय हो!