Although He is Visnu Himself, out of fear He has covered Himself in the form of a brahmana to come to me begging

Expressions researched:
"Although He is Visnu Himself, out of fear He has covered Himself in the form of a brahmana to come to me begging"

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 8

Although He is Visnu Himself, out of fear He has covered Himself in the form of a brahmana to come to me begging.

SB 8.20.12, Translation and Purport

Although He is Viṣṇu Himself, out of fear He has covered Himself in the form of a brāhmaṇa to come to me begging. Under the circumstances, because He has assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa, even if He irreligiously arrests me or even kills me, I shall not retaliate, although He is my enemy.

If Lord Viṣṇu as He is had come to Bali Mahārāja and asked him to do something, Bali Mahārāja certainly would not have refused His request. But to enjoy a little humor between Himself and His devotee, the Lord covered Himself as a brāhmaṇa-brahmacārī and thus came to Bali Mahārāja to beg for only three feet of land.