Matsya Purana 244.2

244.2

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ.
rājadharmastvayā sūta! kathito vistareṇa tu.
tathaivādbhutamaṅgalyaṃ svapnadarśanameva ca .. 244.1 ..

The Rṣis asked:—Sūta! you have related to us the duties of a sovereign and also about the various omens and effects of dreams, now we are desirous of hearing the glory of Lord Viṣṇu Pray tell us why the Lord in His Vâmana incarnation made Bali the great demon king a captive? How did He make His Dwarfish form increase all over the three worlds? —1 2 Sûta said :—Ṛiṣis ! the same question was put by Arjuna to the Muni Śaunaka in Vâmanâyatan in days gone by when the former was on a pilgrimage When Arjuna violated his promise with Yudhiṣṭhira about living with Draupadî, he went on pilgrimage for the expiation of his sin The image of Vâmana was installed in Kurukṣettra When Arjuna saw the image of Vâmana, he asked Śaunaka why Vâmana was worshipped ? and why did He assume the Dwarfish form ? Why Lord Viṣṇu incarnated Himself as Vârâha and how this Kṣettra became so dear to Vâmana ?’—3-7