Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Instructions to Bali, Shloka 4

Prahlada’s Instructions to Bali on Vishnu Worship, Monthly Gifts, and Building Hari’s Temple

Devanagari script

यच्चान्यदपि कर्त्तव्यं हृष्टरूपैरनालसैः तदप्यशेषं दैत्येन्द्र ममाख्यातुमिहार्हसि

Transliteration

yaccānyadapi karttavyaṃ hṛṣṭarūpairanālasaiḥ tadapyaśeṣaṃ daityendra mamākhyātumihārhasi

Translation

“And whatever else is to be done—by those who are cheerful in disposition and not indolent—do you, O lord of the Daityas, also relate all of that to me here, without omission.”

Speakers

• (Narrator-context) A request addressed to Bali (Daityendra) within the Bali–Prahlada instructional exchange

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Janardana)

Key Themes

• Dharma (prescribed conduct)
• Diligence vs. indolence
• Transmission of ritual knowledge
• Dana–Vrata framework

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is being addressed as ‘Daityendra’ here, and why is that title significant?

‘Daityendra’ conventionally denotes Bali, the foremost among the Daityas. In the Vamana-cycle, Bali is portrayed not merely as an asura-king but as a paradigmatic donor (dātā), so the title frames him as an authoritative voice on dana and vrata.

What is the practical instruction implied by ‘hṛṣṭarūpair anālasaiḥ’?

The verse emphasizes the required inner disposition for religious observance: duties such as worship, fasting, and giving are to be performed with gladness and diligence, not as reluctant or negligent acts—an ethical prerequisite that complements external ritual correctness.

Does this verse contain tirtha-geography data typical of the Vamana Purana?

No. This line functions as a transition/request for further instruction. The geographical/tirtha cataloging characteristic of the text appears elsewhere; here the focus is on completeness of teaching (aśeṣa) and proper attitude.