na vai tṛtīyāya tadīyam aṇv api

na vai tṛtīyāya tadīyam aṇv api

urukramasyāṅghrir upary upary atho

mahar-janābhyāṁ tapasaḥ paraṁ gataḥ

As the Lord took his second step, he covered the heavenly planets. And not even a spot remained for the third step, for the Lord's foot extended higher and higher, beyond Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and even Satyaloka.

After covering the earth, the second step using his left foot covered the heavens, Bali’s dwelling place. For the third step, there was no room left (anu api). Though Vāmana requested only three steps of land, his arms and upper body spread over the sky (above Svarga). This is not improper, since the word “land” also includes everything above the land. This is the explanation in the Sandarbha. Others explain that the second step itself included the sky, and thus the Lord covered everywhere with the second step. 

 

The second step increased in size. From Maharloka and Janaloka, and then from Tapoloka it went to Brahmaloka (param).  Some say that his toe nails broke the shell of the universe. Others say that after he broke the eight layers of the universal shell, the Virajā water entered.

 

Thus ends the commentary on the Twentieth Chapter of the Eighth Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas.

 

Chapter Twenty-one

Vāmana Punishes Bali

|| 8.21.1 ||

śrī-śuka uvāca

satyaṁ samīkṣyābja-bhavo nakhendubhir

hata-svadhāma-dyutir āvṛto 'bhyagāt

marīci-miśrā ṛṣayo bṛhad-vratāḥ

sanandanādyā nara-deva yoginaḥ

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King! Seeing his planet touched by Vāmana’s foot, Lord Brahmā, his abode, his effulgence and his own form made dim by the light from the effulgence of Vāmana’s moon-like toe nails, offered respects to the Lord. The great sages headed by Marīci and by yogīs like Sanandana also offered respects to the Lord.

In the Twenty-first Chapter, Brahmā worship Vāmana, Bali forbids the demons from attacking, and Garuḍa, knowing the Lord’s intentions, ties up Bali. In the last chapter it was mentioned Vāmana’s foot reached Brahmaloka. Then what happened? Seeing Satyaloka with the moon’s of Vāmana’s toe nails, Brahmā approached the Lord. Marīci and others also went. They offered respects and Brahmā offered respects. Verbs should be supplied for both subjects. Brahmā, whose effulgence and abode were dimmed by the moons of the nails of Vāmana, was also made dim by the moons of his toe nails. Thus the moons of his toe nails eclipsed Satyaloka, his effulgence and Brahmā himself. 

|| 8.21.2-3 ||