Shloka 171
The Manifestation of Viṣṇu’s Footprints: Vāmana–Trivikrama, Bāṣkali’s Subjugation, and the Rise of Viṣṇupadī
Gaṅgā
तोयपूर्वं तदा दत्तं प्रीयतां मे हरिः स्वयम् । दत्ते तु दानवेंद्रेण त्यक्त्वा रूपं च वामनम्
toyapūrvaṃ tadā dattaṃ prīyatāṃ me hariḥ svayam | datte tu dānaveṃdreṇa tyaktvā rūpaṃ ca vāmanam
Dann, nachdem das rituelle Wasser dargebracht worden war, sprach er: „Möge Hari selbst an mir Wohlgefallen finden.“ Und als der König der Dānavas die Gabe vollzogen hatte, legte Hari die Gestalt des Vāmana ab.
Narrator (contextual voice within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa episode of Vāmana and Bali; exact dialogue-speaker not explicit from this single verse)
Concept: A gift becomes spiritually potent when offered with proper rite (toya) and the intention to please Hari; God responds by revealing His true nature beyond assumed forms.
Application: When giving—charity, time, forgiveness—seal it with clarity of intention and integrity; do not cling to appearances, as grace may arrive in unexpected forms.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a consecrated yajña-maṇḍapa, Bali pours ritual water from a golden kamaṇḍalu into Vāmana’s palm, his face steady with vow-bound humility. As the water falls, a subtle halo swells around the dwarf-brahmacārin, hinting at the imminent shedding of the small form into cosmic majesty.","primary_figures":["Vāmana (Hari in dwarf form)","Bali","Śukrācārya (optional, watching tensely)","priests and attendants"],"setting":"Yajña pavilion with fire altar, kusa grass, ladles, conch and vessels; banners of the Daitya court at the edges","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["gold leaf","saffron orange","deep vermilion","emerald green","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Bali offering toya-dāna into Vāmana’s cupped hand before a blazing yajña-kuṇḍa, thick gold leaf halos around both, rich red and green textiles, gem-studded crowns and ornaments, ornate mandapa pillars, sacred vessels rendered with metallic sheen, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate yajña scene with delicate brushwork—Bali kneeling, Vāmana serene, a thin stream of water mid-air, refined faces, soft architectural lines, muted mountain-like cool background tones, lyrical naturalism in cloth folds and ritual objects.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments—Vāmana with large expressive eyes, Bali in regal posture, stylized flames of the yajña, flat yet vibrant red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall aesthetic with decorative borders of lotus and conch motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vishnu-līlā moment framed by lotus borders—Vāmana at center with subtle Krishna-like divinity, attendants and cows at the periphery, intricate floral patterns, deep indigo ground with gold highlights, conch and chakra motifs woven into the border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells","crackling sacrificial fire","soft conch shell","murmured mantra"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दानवेंद्रेण = दानव + इन्द्रेण; (IAST dānaveṃdreṇa). Locative-absolute: दत्ते तु = ‘when it was given’.
FAQs
It refers to the formal act of giving that is preceded by offering water (a libation), a standard ritual marker that seals or sanctifies a donation (dāna).
It signals the completion of the Vāmana episode’s immediate purpose: once the gift is formally granted by Bali, Vishnu is understood to reveal or resume a non-dwarf, divine aspect appropriate to the next action in the narrative.
The verse highlights sincerity in giving and devotion: the donor frames the act as meant to please Hari, presenting dāna as a spiritual offering rather than mere transaction or display.