Śrīdāma the Daitya
Śrīdāma was a daitya (a son of Diti, a kind of asura). He found a way into the abode of Bhagavān Vishṇu and carried off Lakshmī. To win her back, Bhagavān Vishṇu began fierce tapas (austerity). During that tapas, Bhagavān Śiva appeared and gave Bhagavān Vishṇu the Sudarśana Cakra. With this weapon Bhagavān Vishṇu slew Śrīdāma and brought Lakshmī back.
The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa tells this story in Chapter 56.
The theft of Lakshmī
Śrīdāma found the means to enter the abode of Bhagavān Vishṇu Himself and to carry away Lakshmī. She is the devī of divine kingship, beauty and auspiciousness. By taking her, Śrīdāma tried to bring the brightness of the divine realm to the world of the asuras.
His name means “one whose wealth is Śrī”. Śrī is another name of Lakshmī.
The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa tells this in Chapter 56.
The response of Bhagavān Vishṇu
Bhagavān Vishṇu did not act at once with force. He answered the theft with tapas, deep and steady meditation.
During the tapas, Bhagavān Śiva appeared and gave Bhagavān Vishṇu the Sudarśana Cakra as a vara (a boon). Armed with this great weapon, Bhagavān Vishṇu slew Śrīdāma and recovered Lakshmī.
The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa tells this in Chapter 56.
Sources
- Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 56