some say they are stories
fables told
to help the young safely follow the mold
and give the old something to do
telling these stories to me and you
so by one of those, it goes
there was one brahmana boy
who himself was sized more like a toy
when he asked the king for three steps of land
the king scoffed, then smiled, and waving his hands
gestured to the heavens
‘These are mine you know!?
In fact everywhere you look,
anywhere you could go…
all that you might see, it belongs to me!
So why take only steps? And even then, just three?’
‘Three is plenty’
said the brahman boy
whose smile revealed to a fearful few His ploy
indeed in a sudden two steps
the king’s property was covered
but that doesn’t describe it
the fact is it was smothered
the earth
the heavens
above and below
anywhere known
there was now nowhere to go
the boy asked wryly
‘Where can I put my foot now?
There isn’t anywhere left to go somehow?’
‘One place remains unclaimed by you
and I ask you take it so my words may stay true’
the good king said all this
as the envious looked on in dread
‘Please Lord take me,
please place your foot on my head’
yes it seems a very cute tale
to anyone who’d hear it
but nobody could ever bother to truly believe it
unless you’ver ever begun to sing a certain three names
then like the king who gave three steps
life has never been the same
Hare Krishna Rama