Lord Vamanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

Verse 1 (bhagavata.8.18.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्थं विरिञ्चस्तुतकर्मवीर्यः प्रादुर्बभूवामृतभूरदित्याम् । चतुर्भुजः शङ्खगदाब्जचक्रः पिशङ्गवासा नलिनायतेक्षणः ॥ १ ॥

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

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus praised by Brahma for His deeds and His power, Bhagavan — ever deathless in His manifestation — appeared from Aditi's womb: four-armed, bearing conch, mace, lotus and discus, robed in yellow, His eyes wide as blooming lotus petals.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.8.18.2)

श्यामावदातो झषराजकुण्डल- त्विषोल्लसच्छ्रीवदनाम्बुजः पुमान् । श्रीवत्सवक्षा बलयाङ्गदोल्लस- त्किरीटकाञ्चीगुणचारुनूपुरः ॥ २ ॥

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

Dark-hued, His radiant lotus face lit by shark-shaped earrings, the mark of Shrivatsa upon His chest, that Supreme Person shone with bangles, armlets, a gleaming crown, a girdle, the sacred thread, and beautiful anklets.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.8.18.3)

मधुव्रतव्रातविघुष्टया स्वया विराजितः श्रीवनमालया हरिः । प्रजापतेर्वेश्मतमः स्वरोचिषा विनाशयन् कण्ठनिविष्टकौस्तुभः ॥ ३ ॥

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

Adorned with His own matchless garland of forest flowers, resounding with the hum of honey-seeking bees, the Kaustubha jewel set upon His throat, Hari appeared, His own radiance dispelling the darkness of the Prajapati's dwelling.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.8.18.4)

दिशः प्रसेदुः सलिलाशयास्तदा प्रजाः प्रहृष्टा ऋतवो गुणान्विताः । द्यौरन्तरीक्षं क्षितिरग्निजिह्वा गावो द्विजाः सञ्जहृषुर्नगाश्च ॥ ४ ॥

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

At that moment every direction and every reservoir of water grew serene; all beings rejoiced; the seasons took on their proper virtues; heaven, the sky, the earth, the gods, the cows, the brahmanas and the mountains all filled with joy.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.8.18.5)

श्रोणायां श्रवणद्वादश्यां मुहूर्तेऽभिजिति प्रभुः । सर्वे नक्षत्रताराद्याश्चक्रुस्तज्जन्म दक्षिणम् ॥ ५ ॥

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

In the lunar mansion Shravana, on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, in the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared; and all the stars and planets, deeming His birth most auspicious, poured forth their bounty.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.8.18.6)

द्वादश्यां सवितातिष्ठन्मध्यन्दिनगतो नृप । विजयानाम सा प्रोक्ता यस्यां जन्म विदुर्हरेः ॥ ६ ॥

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

O King, on that twelfth day, with the sun standing at the meridian, Hari's birth took place; and for this reason the learned know that day by the name Vijaya.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.8.18.7)

शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्मृदङ्गपणवानकाः । चित्रवादित्रतूर्याणां निर्घोषस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ ७ ॥

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

Conches and kettledrums sounded, mridangas, panavas and anakas joined in; the din of every kind of instrument and trumpet rose up tumultuously on every side.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.8.18.8)

प्रीताश्चाप्सरसोऽनृत्यन्गन्धर्वप्रवरा जगुः । तुष्टुवुर्मुनयो देवा मनवः पितरोऽग्नयः ॥ ८ ॥

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

The joyful Apsaras danced, the finest of the Gandharvas sang, and the sages, the gods, the Manus, the ancestral spirits and the fire-gods all raised their voices in praise.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.8.18.9)

सिद्धविद्याधरगणाः सकिम्पुरुषकिन्नराः । चारणा यक्षरक्षांसि सुपर्णा भुजगोत्तमाः ॥ ९ ॥

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

The multitudes of Siddhas and Vidyadharas, the Kimpurushas, Kinnaras, Charanas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, the Suparnas and the noblest of serpents — all gathered there.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.8.18.10)

गायन्तोऽतिप्रशंसन्तो नृत्यन्तो विबुधानुगाः । अदित्या आश्रमपदं कुसुमैः समवाकिरन् ॥ १० ॥

gāyanto ’tipraśaṁsanto nṛtyanto vibudhānugāḥ adityā āśrama-padaṁ kusumaiḥ samavākiran

Singing, extolling and dancing, the retinues of the gods showered Aditi's hermitage with flowers until it lay covered over entirely.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.8.18.11)

दृष्ट्वादितिस्तं निजगर्भसम्भवं परं पुमांसं मुदमाप विस्मिता । गृहीतदेहं निजयोगमायया प्रजापतिश्चाह जयेति विस्मितः ॥ ११ ॥

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

Seeing that Supreme Person born of her very own womb, Aditi, astonished, was filled with joy; and Kashyapa the Prajapati, beholding the child who had taken this transcendent form by his own yogamaya, cried out in wonder, 'Jaya, jaya!'

Verse 12 (bhagavata.8.18.12)

यत् तद् वपुर्भाति विभूषणायुधै- रव्यक्तचिद्वयक्तमधारयद्धरिः । बभूव तेनैव स वामनो वटुः सम्पश्यतोर्दिव्यगतिर्यथा नटः ॥ १२ ॥

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

That transcendent, unmanifest yet fully conscious form, resplendent with ornaments and weapons, Hari now held as the dwarf brahmachari boy — even as His parents watched, as an actor changes form with wondrous ease before the eyes of onlookers.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.8.18.13)

तं वटुं वामनं दृष्ट्वा मोदमाना महर्षयः । कर्माणि कारयामासुः पुरस्कृत्य प्रजापतिम् ॥ १३ ॥

taṁ vaṭuṁ vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā modamānā maharṣayaḥ karmāṇi kārayām āsuḥ puraskṛtya prajāpatim

Seeing that dwarf brahmachari, the great sages rejoiced greatly, and placing Kashyapa the Prajapati at the head, they carried out all the sacred rites for Him.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.8.18.14)

तस्योपनीयमानस्य सावित्रीं सविताब्रवीत् । बृहस्पतिर्ब्रह्मसूत्रं मेखलां कश्यपोऽददात् ॥ १४ ॥

tasyopanīyamānasya sāvitrīṁ savitābravīt bṛhaspatir brahma-sūtraṁ mekhalāṁ kaśyapo ’dadāt

At His investiture with the sacred thread, the sun-god himself imparted the Savitri, the Gayatri mantra; Brihaspati gave the sacred thread, and Kashyapa gave the girdle.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.8.18.15)

ददौ कृष्णाजिनं भूमिर्दण्डं सोमो वनस्पतिः । कौपीनाच्छादनं माता द्यौश्छत्रं जगतः पतेः ॥ १५ ॥

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

The earth gave Him a black antelope skin, the moon, lord of the forest, gave Him the brahmachari's staff, His mother Aditi gave Him a loincloth, and heaven itself offered an umbrella to the Lord of the universe.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.8.18.16)

कमण्डलुं वेदगर्भः कुशान्सप्तर्षयो ददुः । अक्षमालां महाराज सरस्वत्यव्ययात्मनः ॥ १६ ॥

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

O King, Brahma, born of the Veda, gave Him a water-pot, the seven great sages gave kusha grass, and Sarasvati gave a rosary of beads to that imperishable Self.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.8.18.17)

तस्मा इत्युपनीताय यक्षराट् पात्रिकामदात् । भिक्षां भगवती साक्षादुमादादम्बिका सती ॥ १७ ॥

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

To Him, thus invested, Kuvera, king of the Yakshas, gave the begging bowl, and the chaste and glorious Ambika — Uma herself, mother of the universe — gave the first alms.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.8.18.18)

स ब्रह्मवर्चसेनैवं सभां सम्भावितो वटुः । ब्रह्मर्षिगणसञ्जुष्टामत्यरोचत मारिषः ॥ १८ ॥

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

Radiant thus with Brahmanical splendor, that brahmachari boy, welcomed into the assembly, outshone it entirely, filled though it was with the greatest brahmarshis.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.8.18.19)

समिद्धमाहितं वह्निं कृत्वा परिसमूहनम् । परिस्तीर्य समभ्यर्च्य समिद्भिरजुहोद् द्विजः ॥ १९ ॥

samiddham āhitaṁ vahniṁ kṛtvā parisamūhanam paristīrya samabhyarcya samidbhir ajuhod dvijaḥ

That best of the twice-born, having established the blazing fire, duly encircling and strewing it according to rite and offering it worship, performed the oblation with sacred kindling-sticks.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.8.18.20)

श्रुत्वाश्वमेधैर्यजमानमूर्जितं बलिं भृगूणामुपकल्पितैस्ततः । जगाम तत्राखिलसारसम्भृतो भारेण गां सन्नमयन्पदे पदे ॥ २० ॥

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

Then, hearing that the mighty Bali was performing ashvamedha sacrifices under the guidance of the Bhrigus, Bhagavan — bearing within Himself the essence of all creation — set out for that place, His every step pressing the earth low beneath His weight.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.8.18.21)

तं नर्मदायास्तट उत्तरे बले- र्य ऋत्विजस्ते भृगुकच्छसंज्ञके । प्रवर्तयन्तो भृगवः क्रतूत्तमं व्यचक्षतारादुदितं यथा रविम् ॥ २१ ॥

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

On the northern bank of the Narmada, in the field called Bhrigukachchha, the Bhrigu priests conducting Bali's supreme sacrifice beheld Him nearby, as though the sun itself had newly risen.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.8.18.22)

ते ऋत्विजो यजमानः सदस्या हतत्विषो वामनतेजसा नृप । सूर्यः किलायात्युत वा विभावसुः सनत्कुमारोऽथ दिदृक्षया क्रतोः ॥ २२ ॥

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

O King, by Vamana's brilliance the priests, the sacrificer Bali, and every member of the assembly were robbed of their own radiance; and they began asking one another whether the sun himself was approaching, or the fire-god, or whether Sanat-kumara had come out of a wish to witness the sacrifice.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.8.18.23)

इत्थं सशिष्येषु भृगुष्वनेकधा वितर्क्यमाणो भगवान्स वामनः । छत्रं सदण्डं सजलं कमण्डलुं विवेश बिभ्रद्धयमेधवाटम् ॥ २३ ॥

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

While the Bhrigus and their disciples were still debating in many ways among themselves, Bhagavan Vamana, carrying His umbrella, His staff and His water-filled kamandalu, entered the arena of the ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.8.18.24)

मौञ्ज्या मेखलया वीतमुपवीताजिनोत्तरम् । जटिलं वामनं विप्रं मायामाणवकं हरिम् ॥ २४ ॥

mauñjyā mekhalayā vītam upavītājinottaram jaṭilaṁ vāmanaṁ vipraṁ māyā-māṇavakaṁ harim

Girded with a belt of munja grass, wearing the sacred thread and a garment of deerskin, His hair matted, that dwarf brahmana — seemingly, by illusion, an ordinary human child — was none other than Hari Himself.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.8.18.25)

प्रविष्टं वीक्ष्य भृगवः सशिष्यास्ते सहाग्निभिः । प्रत्यगृह्णन्समुत्थाय सङ्क्षिप्तास्तस्य तेजसा ॥ २५ ॥

praviṣṭaṁ vīkṣya bhṛgavaḥ saśiṣyās te sahāgnibhiḥ pratyagṛhṇan samutthāya saṅkṣiptās tasya tejasā

Seeing Him enter, the Bhrigus, together with their disciples and their sacred fires, rose at once and received Him, for His brilliance had already dimmed their own.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.8.18.26)

यजमानः प्रमुदितो दर्शनीयं मनोरमम् । रूपानुरूपावयवं तस्मा आसनमाहरत् ॥ २६ ॥

yajamānaḥ pramudito darśanīyaṁ manoramam rūpānurūpāvayavaṁ tasmā āsanam āharat

Beholding that pleasing and beautiful boy, every limb in perfect harmony with the rest, the sacrificer Bali rejoiced greatly and offered Him a seat.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.8.18.27)

स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्याथ पादौ भगवतो बलिः । अवनिज्यार्चयामास मुक्तसङ्गमनोरमम् ॥ २७ ॥

svāgatenābhinandyātha pādau bhagavato baliḥ avanijyārcayām āsa mukta-saṅga-manoramam

Welcoming Him thus with words of greeting, Bali washed the feet of Bhagavan — beautiful even to the eyes of the liberated — and worshipped Him.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.8.18.28)

तत्पादशौचं जनकल्मषापहं स धर्मविन्मूर्ध्न्यदधात् सुमङ्गलम् । यद् देवदेवो गिरिशश्चन्द्रमौलि- र्दधार मूर्ध्ना परया च भक्त्या ॥ २८ ॥

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

Bali, well versed in dharma, bore upon his head that most auspicious water which had washed those feet and which cleanses all people of their sin — the very water that Girisha, the moon-crested Lord of gods, bears upon his own head with the deepest devotion.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.8.18.29)

श्रीबलिरुवाच स्वागतं ते नमस्तुभ्यं ब्रह्मन्किं करवाम ते । ब्रह्मर्षीणां तपः साक्षान्मन्ये त्वार्य वपुर्धरम् ॥ २९ ॥

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

Shri Bali said: Welcome to You, O brahmana, my obeisance to You. What may we do for You? O noble one, I take You to be the very austerity of the great brahmarshis given a bodily form.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.8.18.30)

अद्य नः पितरस्तृप्ता अद्य नः पावितं कुलम् । अद्य स्विष्टः क्रतुरयं यद् भवानागतो गृहान् ॥ ३० ॥

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

Today our forefathers are satisfied, today our lineage stands purified, today this very sacrifice has found its true fulfillment — because You have come to our home.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.8.18.31)

अद्याग्नयो मे सुहुता यथाविधि द्विजात्मज त्वच्चरणावनेजनैः । हतांहसो वार्भिरियं च भूरहो तथा पुनीता तनुभिः पदैस्तव ॥ ३१ ॥

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

O son of a brahmana, today my sacrificial fires have been rightly and fully fed; by the water that washed Your feet all my sins have been undone, and by the very touch of Your small feet this whole earth has been made sacred.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.8.18.32)

यद् वटो वाञ्छसि तत्प्रतीच्छ मे त्वामर्थिनं विप्रसुतानुतर्कये । गां काञ्चनं गुणवद् धाम मृष्टं तथान्नपेयमुत वा विप्रकन्याम् । ग्रामान् समृद्धांस्तुरगान् गजान् वा रथांस्तथार्हत्तम सम्प्रतीच्छ ॥ ३२ ॥

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

O young brahmachari, take from me whatever You desire; O son of a brahmana, I sense You have come seeking something. A cow, gold, a well-appointed dwelling, choice food and drink, or the hand of a brahmana's daughter, prosperous villages, horses, elephants or chariots — O most worshipable one, accept whatever You wish.