Vamana Purana — Bali's Sudarshana Worship, Shloka 60

Bali’s Worship of Sudarshana and Prahlada’s Teaching on Vishnu-Bhakti

Devanagari script

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं वरेण्यं वरदं प्रभुम् नारायणं नमस्कृत्य सर्वकर्माणि कारयेत्

Transliteration

sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalyaṃ vareṇyaṃ varadaṃ prabhum nārāyaṇaṃ namaskṛtya sarvakarmāṇi kārayet

Translation

Having bowed to Nārāyaṇa—who is the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, the most excellent, the bestower of boons, and the supreme Lord—one should undertake (or cause to be undertaken) all actions.

Speakers

• Narratorial/teaching voice within the Saro-mahātmya section (instructional passage addressed to the listener of the dialogue frame).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)

Key Themes

• Nārāyaṇa-smaraṇa (remembrance of Vishnu)
• Maṅgala (auspicious commencement)
• Ritual propriety (beginning acts with praṇāma)
• Bhakti as ritual foundation

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the practical instruction of this verse in a Purāṇic ritual context?

It functions as a maṅgala-ācaraṇa: an injunction that all undertakings—ritual, pilgrimage acts, vows, gifts, or daily duties—should begin with obeisance to Nārāyaṇa, establishing auspiciousness and legitimacy of the act.

Why is Nārāyaṇa called “sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalya” here?

The epithet asserts a theological hierarchy: auspicious objects, times, and rites are auspicious only derivatively, while the Lord is the source and summit of auspiciousness; hence bowing to him is presented as the most effective ‘auspicious beginning’.

Does “kārayet” imply only personal action?

No. In classical Sanskrit injunctions, kārayet can include ‘to do’ and ‘to cause to be done’ (e.g., through priests or assistants), covering both personal observance and formally conducted rites.