indian art - miniatures - archecticture - vedic philosophy
 
 
   

 
Avatars - Incarnations of Visnu - Vamana
 
Vamana the Dwarf Incarnation  

 

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pancadasam vamanakam
krtvagad adhvaram baleh
pada-trayam yacamanah
pratyaditsus tri-pistapam
SB 1.3.19

Translation
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brahmana [Vamana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Maharaja 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.

Purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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.