Vamana Purana — Bali Learns of Vamana, Shloka 14

Bali Learns of Vamana in Aditi’s Womb and Prahlada Teaches Refuge in Hari

Devanagari script

अथोवाच महाबुद्धिर्विरोजनसुतं बलिम् प्रह्लादो मधुरं वाक्यं प्रणम्य मधुसूदनम्

Transliteration

athovāca mahābuddhirvirojanasutaṃ balim prahlādo madhuraṃ vākyaṃ praṇamya madhusūdanam

Translation

Then Prahlāda, the great-minded one, having bowed to Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu), spoke sweet words to Bali, the son of Virocana.

Speakers

• Narrator describing: Prahlāda addressing Bali; Prahlāda first bows to Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Hari/Madhusudana)

Key Themes

• Bhakti (devotion) even within Daitya lineage
• Proper speech and counsel (madhura-vākya)
• Supremacy of Hari acknowledged by Prahlāda

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Prahlāda bow to Madhusūdana before speaking to Bali?

Prahlāda’s defining trait across Purāṇic literature is unwavering devotion to Viṣṇu. By bowing first, he frames his counsel as grounded in divine truth (Hari-dharma), not merely political strategy.

What is implied by calling Viṣṇu “Madhusūdana” here?

The epithet recalls Viṣṇu’s role as the destroyer of demonic forces (Madhu). In the Bali cycle, it subtly foreshadows that Hari can subdue even powerful Daityas—yet often through dharma and measured means rather than brute force.

Does this verse indicate a shift in allegiance within the Daitya camp?

It highlights an internal theological hierarchy: even if Bali is politically dominant, Prahlāda’s ultimate refuge and authority is Hari. This tension often drives the narrative toward Bali’s eventual encounter with Viṣṇu’s avatāra.