Shloka 52

Vamana's Three Steps — Vamana’s Three Steps and the Binding of Bali

Devanagari script

गते मन्वन्तरे बाण श्राद्धदेवस्य साम्प्रतम् सावर्णिके च संप्राप्ते बलिरिन्द्रो भविष्यति

Transliteration

gate manvantare bāṇa śrāddhadevasya sāmpratam sāvarṇike ca saṃprāpte balirindro bhaviṣyati

Translation

হে বাণ! শ্রাদ্ধদেবের বর্তমান মন্বন্তর অতীত হলে এবং সাবর্ণিক মন্বন্তর উপস্থিত হলে, বলি ইন্দ্র হবে।

Speakers

• Vishnu (Vamana/Trivikrama) speaking prophetically to Bāṇa (a Daitya figure
• traditionally Bali’s son)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Vamana/Trivikrama)
• Bali
• Indra (office/title)
• Śrāddhadeva (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Sāvarṇi Manu (by reference)

Key Themes

• Manvantara cycles and cosmic administration
• Reversal/rotation of divine offices (Indrahood)
• Bali’s eventual elevation
• Purāṇic time-reckoning and prophecy

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is ‘Śrāddhadeva’ here?

Śrāddhadeva is Vaivasvata Manu, the Manu of the current Manvantara in standard Purāṇic chronology. The verse uses his epithet to anchor the prophecy in the present cosmic epoch.

What is meant by ‘Sāvarṇika’ Manvantara?

It refers to the Manvantara presided over by Sāvarṇi Manu (a future Manu in the Purāṇic sequence). The verse states that after the current Vaivasvata Manvantara ends, the Sāvarṇika epoch will arrive.

How can Bali, an asura-king, become Indra?

‘Indra’ is an office that changes each Manvantara. Purāṇas often depict moral causality across aeons: Bali’s truthfulness and completed dāna to Vishnu mature into future cosmic rulership, showing that merit can elevate even those born in asura lineages.