Srimad Bhagavatam – day 486
Vāmana said to Emperor Bali, “O demon-king, you are the best among those who engage in charities. Therefore from you I seek only three feet of land, measurable by my footsteps. Please grant me this land. There is nothing apart from that I seek. This is because the sin called accepting gifts (pratigraha doṣa) does not accrue to the intelligent person who accepts only as much as he needs”.
Hearing these words uttered by the dwarf Vāmana, demon-king Bali replied, “Aha! O Brahmin boy! Learned scholars will truly appreciate what you have spoken. Nevertheless, being young, you speak like an ignorant person. From your words it is evident that you do not take even the slightest interest in self-gain. You have pleased me with your words.
I am the lord of all the three worlds. I have the capacity to grant you ownership over even a large island. This being the case, seeking only three feet of land indicates your ignorance.
O Brahmachari! One who begs from me should never ever have to beg again in life. Therefore please accept from me as much land as is needed for your livelihood”.
Lord Vāmana said, “O Emperor! The person who lacks control over his senses will remain dissatisfied even if all his favourite objects of comfort, from all the three planes of existence (lokas), are granted to him. Even collectively they fail to satisfy his desires.
Tribhiḥ kramair asantuṣṭo dvīpenāpi na pūryate
Nava-varṣa-sametena sapta-dvīpa-varecchayā
A person who is not content upon obtaining three feet of land will continue to remain discontented even upon receiving the lordship over the entire Jambhu dweepa which consists of nine countries. This is because upon acquiring control over one continent, the desire to own all other continents will arise in him.
Even Vena’s son Prithu, King Gaya, Emperor Priyavrata and other such emperors who controlled all the seven continents, could not completely fulfill all their ambitions. They could not obtain total contentment over their material earnings (artha) nor completely fulfill all their desires (kāma).
Only he, who is content with whatever destiny offers him, leads a happy, contented life. On the other hand, the person who lacks control over his body, mind and senses will never experience contentment even if ruler-ship over the three worlds is granted to him. He will never experience true happiness. This is what Mahatmas state.
Remaining discontent with material earnings (artha) or in aspects of fulfilment of desires (kāma) throws the person into the web called repeated re-births. Being content with whatever destiny offers to him, leads the person towards liberation.
Spiritual radiance increases significantly in the Vedic Brahmin who is content with whatever he obtains through Gods’ grace. However, just as water completely puts out the fire, spiritual radiance erodes completely in the Vedic Brahmin who remains discontent.
Tasmāt trīṇi padāny eva vṛṇe tvad varadarṣabhāt
Etāvataiva siddho ’haṁ vittaṁ yāvat prayojanam
Therefore, even though you are the best among those who distribute charities, I seek from you only three feet of land. A person should accumulate wealth only as much as is necessary”.
Bali laughed hearing these words and saying, ‘Ok, let it happen per your desire’ he took up the water pot in his hand to give away three feet of land in charity”.
Swamiji explains: Bali wanted to give expensive gifts to Vāmana in charity. He was ready to offer him ownership over huge continents. However Vāmana replied, ‘What will I obtain even after extensively seeking comforts? They are all nothing but desires. Even kings who control different continents are not satisfied but seek to fulfill more desires. Therefore I will take only as much as I need. I need three feet of land. That’s all. I will not accept more than that’.
“Just as Bali held the water pot, Śukracharya, the learned scholar, realized that something was fishy. He had been keenly listening to the entire conversation between Bali and Vāmana. He realized that the Supreme Lord himself had arrived there. Through his divine vision, he also understood the intention of the Lord who, in the form of a little dwarf, was seeking three feet of land. Immediately he addressed his disciple, the demon-king Bali, who was about to give away three feet of land and said,
“Eṣa vairocane sākṣād bhagavān viṣṇur avyayaḥ
Kaśyapād aditer jāto devānāṁ kārya-sādhakaḥ
O son of Virocana! This small dwarf Vāmana is none other than the indestructible Supreme Lord. In order to accomplish the task of the Devatas he has incarnated as the son of Kaśyapa through the womb of Aditi. You have given your word to him without estimating the calamity that is going to befall you. O king, in my opinion this deed of yours is not going to benefit the demons in any way. Please be alert. He is here to cause some harm”.
Narayana narayana