Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 192

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

एवं रसातलं विष्णुर्बलये सासुराय तु । दत्त्वाभयं च सर्वेषां सुराणां त्रिदिवं ददौ ॥ ९२ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ rasātalaṃ viṣṇurbalaye sāsurāya tu | dattvābhayaṃ ca sarveṣāṃ surāṇāṃ tridivaṃ dadau || 92 ||

Translation

So verbannte Viṣṇu Bali samt seinem Asura‑Heer nach Rasātala; und nachdem Er allen Göttern Furchtlosigkeit gewährt hatte, gab Er ihnen Tridiva, die Himmelswelt, zurück.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• रसातलम्: Rasātala (netherworld)
• रसातलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• बलये: to Bali
• बलये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• सासुराय: together with (his) asuras
• सासुराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; ‘स’ उपसर्गसदृश अव्ययपूर्वक विशेषण (with the asuras/along with asuras)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having given’

• अभयम्: fearlessness; assurance of safety
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of all’

• सुराणाम्: of the gods
• सुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• त्रिदिवम्: Tridiva (heaven)
• त्रिदिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रयाणां दिवानां समाहारः/त्रिषु दिवेषु इति—heaven, the three heavens)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Purāṇic dialogue, traditionally to the Sanatkumāra brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bali
• Asuras
• Devas
• Rasatala
• Tridiva (Svarga)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It presents Viṣṇu as the restorer of ṛta (cosmic order): wrongdoing is restrained (Bali sent to Rasātala), while the righteous are protected (the devas receive abhayā and Svarga is restored).

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is implied through reliance on Viṣṇu as the ultimate refuge: fearlessness (abhaya) comes not from power or status but from the Lord’s grace and protection when dharma is upheld.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga procedure is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti—recognizing divine governance over realms (Svarga/Rasātala) and the ethical principle of protection (abhaya-dāna) as a royal and sacred ideal.