Vamana Purana — Bali Learns of Vamana, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

शोच्यस्त्वमसि दुर्बुद्धे निन्दनीयश् च साधुभिः यत् त्रैलोक्यगुरुं विष्णुमभिनिन्दसि दुर्मते

Transliteration

śocyastvamasi durbuddhe nindanīyaś ca sādhubhiḥ yat trailokyaguruṃ viṣṇumabhinindasi durmate

Translation

“You are indeed pitiable, O evil-minded one, and worthy of censure by the virtuous—since you, of wicked intent, revile Viṣṇu, the teacher of the three worlds.”

Speakers

• A righteous speaker admonishing a blasphemer; the ‘sādhus’ are invoked as moral witnesses/standard-bearers.

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Authority of Viṣṇu as cosmic teacher
• Social-religious norm: sādhus censure impiety
• Moral psychology of wrong intention (durmati)
• Consequences of blasphemy

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Viṣṇu called ‘trailokya-guru’ here?

The epithet presents Viṣṇu as the ultimate source of order, instruction, and right conduct across the cosmos. In Purāṇic idiom, calling a deity ‘guru’ elevates the offense of reviling Him to an offense against the very foundation of dharma.

What role do ‘sādhus’ play in this verse?

They function as the ethical community whose judgment reflects dharma. The verse implies that blasphemy is not merely a private fault but a public moral breach recognized and condemned by the virtuous.

Does ‘abhinindasi’ intensify the charge?

Yes. The prefix abhi- often conveys directness or emphasis—suggesting deliberate, pointed revilement rather than casual or inadvertent speech.