Shloka 27

Brahmā Worships Vāmana; the Demons Attack; Bali is Bound and Questioned About the Third Step

Devanagari script

हाहाकारो महानासीद् रोदस्यो: सर्वतोदिशम् । निगृह्यमाणेऽसुरपतौ विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

hāhākāro mahān āsīd rodasyoḥ sarvato diśam nigṛhyamāṇe ’sura-patau viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā

Translation

As Bali Mahārāja, lord of the asuras, was thus seized by the supremely powerful Lord Viṣṇu, a great roar of lamentation arose in all directions throughout the higher and lower worlds.

Synonyms

• हाहाकारः: a great cry of lamentation
• हाहाकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाहाकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘हाहाकारः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• आसीत्: was/arose
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• रोदस्योः: of the two worlds (heaven and earth)
• रोदस्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोदसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्विवचनान्त-प्रातिपदिक), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘सर्वतः’ इत्यनेन सह—‘in every direction’ (accusative of extent)

• निगृह्यमाणे: while being seized/held back
• निगृह्यमाणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि+ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शानच्/Present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘असुरपतौ’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• असुर-पतौ: when the lord of the Asuras (Bali)
• असुर-पतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—असुराणां पतिः

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• प्रभविष्णुना: by the all-powerful (Viṣṇu)
• प्रभविष्णुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘विष्णुना’ इत्यस्य विशेषण—प्रभविष्णुः = अत्यन्त-समर्थः

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Bali Mahārāja

FAQs

What does Śrīmad Bhāgavatam say about Lord Viṣṇu subduing Bali Mahārāja?

This verse describes the moment Viṣṇu restrains Bali, causing a widespread outcry across heaven and earth—showing the Lord’s irresistible sovereignty over even the most powerful rulers.

Why was there a great cry (hāhākāra) when Bali was being captured?

Because Bali was the asura-king and a major cosmic power; as Viṣṇu subdued him, the event shook the worlds, and beings in all directions reacted with alarm and astonishment.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

Worldly power can appear overwhelming, but the Bhāgavatam emphasizes that ultimate control rests with God; cultivating humility and surrender steadies one when status, control, or security is challenged.