As part of a sacred ritual, King Mahabali was bound to grant the request of anyone who approached.
Vamana thus approached the king.
"What is your request?" asked Mahabali.
"Give me the land I traverse in three paces," said Vamana.
Mahabali laughed at this small request and agreed.
With his first step, Vamana traversed the whole earth.
With his second step, he traversed the heavens.
With his third step, he stood on Mahabali's head, sending him down into the underworld, where Mahabali now rules.
Inspired by: Valmiki's Ramayana
Notes: This is the Bala Kanda (Book 1), sarga 29. Mahabali's priest, Shukracharya, attempted to invalidate the ritual by hiding himself in a water pot and blocking the pot from pouring water upon the king's hands to solemnize the ritual. Vamana realized this, however, and poked a blade of grass into the pot, piercing Shukracharya's eye, who thenceforth had only one eye.
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