Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 189
Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna
नारद उवाच । रसातले महाविष्णुर्विरोचनसुतस्य वै । किं भोज्यं कल्पयामास घोरे सर्पभयाकुले ॥ ८९ ॥
nārada uvāca | rasātale mahāviṣṇurvirocanasutasya vai | kiṃ bhojyaṃ kalpayāmāsa ghore sarpabhayākule || 89 ||
Nārada sprach: In Rasātala, an jenem schrecklichen Ort, erfüllt von Schlangenfurcht, welche Speise bereitete Mahāviṣṇu für den Sohn Virocanas?
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It frames a teaching through inquiry: even in terrifying conditions (Rasātala, fear of serpents), Viṣṇu’s providence reaches the devotee, highlighting divine protection and sustaining grace.
By focusing attention on what Viṣṇu personally provides for Bali, the verse points to bhakti as dependence on the Lord’s care—remembering that the Lord sustains His devotee in every realm and circumstance.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this line; it functions as narrative setup (itihāsa-style questioning) to introduce a dharmic or devotional instruction that follows.