तावन्मतां महती यावत्किमपि हि न याच्यते लोकम् । बलिमनुयाचनसमये श्रीपतिरपि वामनो जातः ॥

तावन्मतां महती यावत्किमपि हि न याच्यते लोकम् ।
बलिमनुयाचनसमये श्रीपतिरपि वामनो जातः ॥

भावार्थ:

महान और यशस्वी व्यक्ति भी तभी तक अपनी महानता को बनाये रखते हैं जब तक कि वे किसी से याचना नहीं करते हैं। यहां तक कि भगवान विष्णु को भी दैत्यों के राजा बलि से याचना करने के लिये एक बौने ब्राह्मण का रूप धारण करना पडा था।

(पुराणों मे वर्णित राजा बलि से भगवान विष्णु द्वारा तीन पग पृथ्वी की याचना के प्रसंग का उदाहरण देकर इस सुभाषित द्वारा इस बात पर बल दिया गया है कि किसी प्रकार की भी याचना करने के लिये शक्तिशाली व्यक्तियों को भी झुकना पडता है।)

English

Taavanmahataam mahato yaavatkimapi hi na yaachayate lokam.
Balimanuyaachanasamaye shreepatirapi vaamano jaatah.

Great and mighty persons maintain their greatness until such time they do not beg from
others. Even Lord Vishnu had to transform himself into a dwarf while begging from the King Bali.

(As per Hindu Mythology, Bali the King of Demons and ruler of the underworld, became all powerful and conquered the Gods. So, with a view to winning back their kingdom, they requested the supreme God Vishnu to help them. Bali was known for his righteousness and charitable nature. So, Vishnu transformed himself into a dwarf Brahman and begged Bali to give him some land of the size of his three footsteps. Although Bali recognized the real intention and identity of Vishnu, he agreed to do so as he never turned down the beggars who came to him. Lord Vishnu measured the entire earth, sky and underworld in three steps. The idea behind this simile is that in order to beg any thing from others even powerful persons have to face ignominy, as Vishnu had to do by approaching Bali as a dwarf.)

(इससे पहले का सुभाषित – अविद्यः पुरुषः शोच्यः शोच्यं मिथुनमप्रजं । निराहारः प्रजाः शोच्या शोच्यं राष्ट्रमराजकं ॥ )