पञ्चदशं वामनकं कृत्वागादध्वरं बले: । पदत्रयं याचमान: प्रत्यादित्सुस्त्रिपिष्टपम् ॥ १९ ॥
pancadasam vamanakam krtvagad adhvaram baleh pada-trayam yacamanah pratyaditsus tri-pistapam
- pancadasam
- the fifteenth in the line
- vamanakam
- the dwarf brahmana
- krtva
- by assumption of
- agat
- went
- adhvaram
- arena of sacrifice
- baleh
- of King Bali
- pada-trayam
- three steps only
- yacamanah
- begging
- pratyaditsuh
- willing at heart to return
- tri-pistapam
- the kingdom of the three planeary systems.
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 planeary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.