Shloka 2

Devanagari script

असुरेन्द्रं महाप्राज्ञं धर्माणामागतागमम्‌ | बलि: पप्रच्छ दैत्येन्द्रं प्रह्मादं पितरं पितु:,असुरोंके स्वामी परम बुद्धिमान दैत्यराज प्रह्नाद सभी धर्मोके रहस्यको जाननेवाले थे। एक समय बलिने उन अपने पितामह प्रह्नादजीसे पूछा

Transliteration

asurendraṁ mahāprājñaṁ dharmāṇām āgatāgamaṁ | baliḥ papraccha daityendraṁ prahlādaṁ pitaraṁ pituḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Bali questioned Prahlāda—the lord of the Dānavas, an Asura-king of great wisdom, well-versed in the received tradition concerning dharma—who was also the father of Bali’s father. The scene frames a respectful inquiry into the principles of righteous conduct, placing ethical learning above mere power or lineage.

Word by Word

• {'asurendram': 'lord of the Asuras

• chief among Asuras', 'mahāprājñam': 'greatly wise

• possessing profound intelligence', 'dharmāṇām': 'of dharma

• of righteous duties and moral law', 'āgatāgamaṁ': 'one who knows the āgama received by tradition

• versed in authoritative teachings handed down', 'baliḥ': 'Bali (the Asura king)', 'papraccha': 'asked

• inquired', 'daityendram': 'lord of the Daityas/Dānavas

• chief of the demons', 'prahlādam': 'Prahlāda (renowned devotee and wise Asura elder)', 'pitaraṁ pituḥ': 'the father of (his) father

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Bali
• Prahlāda
• Asuras
• Daityas (Dānavas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ethical authority is grounded in wisdom and received tradition (āgama), not merely in power. Bali’s approach—seeking guidance from a learned elder—models how rulers should consult dharma-knowledge to govern and act rightly.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator introduces a dialogue setup: Bali, an Asura ruler, respectfully questions his grandfather Prahlāda, famed for intelligence and knowledge of dharma. This signals the beginning of an instructive exchange on righteous conduct.