Vamana tells Mahabali that all He wants is land equal to what He can measure with three steps. This seems so insignificant a request, that Mahabali begins to advise Vamana, said Kidambi Narayanan, in a discourse. Mahabali says, “You look like a highly educated boy, but with Your words, You have shown that You are still childlike in Your innocence. You do not know what is good for You. I am Emperor of the three worlds. I have the capacity to give you an entire island. I was happy when You said You wanted something from me. But now You have asked for something so petty — land measured with three steps. How can I now say You are intelligent? As far as I am concerned, if someone comes to me for something, he must never have to go to anyone else for it, for I can give everything a man may desire.”
Vamana replies: “A man is happy only if he controls his indriyas . The mind is like a monkey. Even if you train it, it will remain restless. But, if you control your indriyas , even if you have desires, you will not go astray. If a man has not conquered his indriyas , even if you give him all the things available in the three worlds, he will still not be satisfied. A person who is not happy with a small plot of land, will not be happy even if he were to come into possession of a larger plot of land. He will want seven islands. Contentment leads to happiness, and this happiness is possible, only if you have control of the indriyas . Expectation burns like a bright fire. But this fire will never be put out. If an educated man is content with what he has, then he will have Brahma tejas . You may have the capacity to give a lot. But I want nothing more than a small piece of land. We must know what we need, and to know this, we must know who we are.”
