# SB 8.15.1-2 > श्रीराजोवाच > बलेः पदत्रयं भूमेः कस्माद्धरिरयाचत > भूतेश्वरः कृपणवल्लब्धार्थोऽपि बबन्ध तम ॥१॥ > एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामो महत्कौतूहलं हि नः > यज्ञएश्वरस्य पूर्णस्य बन्धनं चाप्यनागसः ॥२॥ ## Text > śrī-rājovāca > baleḥ pada-trayaṁ bhūmeḥ > kasmād dharir ayācata > bhūteśvaraḥ kṛpaṇa-val > labdhārtho 'pi babandha tam > > etad veditum icchāmo > mahat kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ > yācñeśvarasya pūrṇasya > bandhanaṁ cāpy anāgasaḥ ## Synonyms *śrī-rājā uvāca*—the King said; *baleḥ*—of Bali Mahārāja; *pada-trayam*—three steps; *bhūmeḥ*—of land; *kasmāt*—why; *hariḥ*—the Supreme Personality of Godhead (in the form of Vāmana); *ayācata*—begged; *bhūta-īśvaraḥ*—the proprietor of all the universe; *kṛpaṇa-vat*—like a poor man; *labdha-arthaḥ*—He got the gift; *api*—although; *babandha*—arrested; *tam*—him (Bali); *etat*—all this; *veditum*—to understand; *icchāmaḥ*—we desire; *mahat*—very great; *kautūhalam*—eagerness; *hi*—indeed; *naḥ*—our; *yācñā*—begging; *īśvarasya*—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; *pūrṇasya*—who is full in everything; *bandhanam*—arresting; *ca*—also; *api*—although; *anāgasaḥ*—of he who was faultless. ## Translation **Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the proprietor of everything. Why did He beg three paces of land from Bali Mahārāja like a poor man, and when He got the gift for which He had begged, why did He nonetheless arrest Bali Mahārāja? I am very much anxious to know the mystery of these contradictions.**