Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 29: The History of Siddhāśrama
Text 1.29.8
स त्वं सुरहितार्थाय मायायोगमुपागतः।
वामनत्वं गतो विष्णो कुरु कल्याणमुत्तमम्॥
sa tvaṁ sura-hitārthāya māyā-yogam upāgataḥ
vāmanatvaṁ gato viṣṇo kuru kalyāṇam uttamam
saḥ tvam = Your Lordships; sura-hita-arthāya = for the welfare of the devas; māyā-yogam = Your concealing potency; upāgataḥ = using; vāmanatvam gataḥ = may become Vāmana; viṣṇuḥ = O Lord Viṣṇu; kuru = and perform; kalyāṇam = the auspicious act; uttamam = most.
O Lord Viṣṇu, using Your concealing potency, may Your Lordships become Vāmana and perform the most auspicious act for the welfare of the devas.
Māyā-yogam indicates that Lord Viṣṇu should employ His potency of concealing Himself. He should accept the form of a dwarf, Vāmana, and perform an act that would bring about auspiciousness unto the devas, that is, He should fulfill their mission. Bali has the great quality of generosity. Therefore, they imply here, He should accept the form of Vāmana and take away his kingdom on the pretext of begging and give it to the devas.