Shloka 6

अन्धक-हिरण्याक्ष-प्रसङ्गः, वराहावतारः, दंष्ट्राभूषणं च

Devanagari script

बलिना दैत्यमुख्येन क्रूरेण सुदुरात्मना प्रणम्य शिरसा विष्णुं दैत्यकोटिविमर्दनम्

Transliteration

balinā daityamukhyena krūreṇa sudurātmanā praṇamya śirasā viṣṇuṃ daityakoṭivimardanam

Translation

Then Bali—the foremost among the Daityas, cruel and hard of heart—bowed his head in obeisance to Viṣṇu, the crusher of millions of demons. In the Śaiva understanding, even such might is ultimately under the Supreme Pati; Śiva alone dissolves the bonds of pāśa that bind the paśus.

Word by Word

• बलिना: by Bali

• दैत्यमुख्येन: by the chief of the Daityas

• क्रूरेण: cruel

• सुदुरात्मना: of very wicked/harsh nature

• प्रणम्य: having bowed

• शिरसा: with (his) head

• विष्णुम्: to Vishnu

• दैत्यकोटिविमर्दनम्: the destroyer/crusher of crores (multitudes) of Daityas

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It models śaraṇāgati (surrender): even a proud daitya-chief bows to a higher divine order—an attitude essential for Linga-puja, where the pashu (soul) relinquishes pasha (bondage) through devotion to Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Though Vishnu is named as the demon-crusher, Shaiva Siddhanta reads such divine mastery as ultimately grounded in Pati’s supreme sovereignty; the verse indirectly reinforces that all cosmic powers function under the Highest Lord who alone grants true release.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The practice is pranāma and inner humility—foundation for puja and for Pāśupata-oriented discipline, where ego-softening precedes mantra, worship, and the loosening of pasha.