Shloka 18

भविष्य-मन्वन्तराः (अष्टम-चतुर्दश) तथा कल्प-युग-व्यवस्था

Devanagari script

विष्णुप्रसादाद् अनघः पातालान्तरगोचरः विरोचनसुतस् तेषां बलिर् इन्द्रो भविष्यति

Transliteration

viṣṇuprasādād anaghaḥ pātālāntaragocaraḥ virocanasutas teṣāṃ balir indro bhaviṣyati

Translation

By the grace of Lord Viṣṇu, O sinless one, Bali, son of Virocana—who moves within the regions of Pātāla—shall become Indra among them.

Word by Word

• विष्णुप्रसादात्: from/by Viṣṇu's grace
• विष्णुप्रसादात्: Hetu/Apādāna (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (by/from the grace of Viṣṇu)

• अनघः: sinless
• अनघः: Viśeṣaṇa (to बलिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पातालान्तरगोचरः: dwelling/roaming in the depths of Pātāla
• पातालान्तरगोचरः: Viśeṣaṇa (to बलिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाताल + अन्तर + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (moving/roaming in the inner regions of Pātāla)

• विरोचनसुतः: Virocana's son
• विरोचनसुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोचन (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (son of Virocana)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Predicate nominal (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पद/उपाधि (title)

• भविष्यति: will become
• भविष्यति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Who will be Indra in the Sāvarṇi Manvantara, and by what sanction?

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: reassuring

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Savarni

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Avatara Context

Avatara: Vamana

Purpose: Vāmana subdued Bali and restored Indra’s sovereignty, yet by Viṣṇu’s grace Bali later attains the office of Indra in a future Manvantara.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Rightful cosmic kingship and balance between devas and asuras

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu’s prasāda can elevate even one dwelling in Pātāla to cosmic sovereignty, showing grace as the decisive principle over mere status.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Rely on divine grace while practicing humility and surrender; do not absolutize present circumstances.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s free grace (prasāda) governs real persons and realms, integrating justice and mercy within a single divine administration.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bali
• Virocana
• Patala
• Indra

FAQs

What is the significance of Bali becoming Indra in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that cosmic offices like “Indra” function as roles within universal order, and even an Asura king like Bali can hold sovereignty when it is granted under Viṣṇu’s grace and governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain sovereignty and divine authority here?

Parāśara frames rulership as dependent on Viṣṇu’s prasāda (favor): authority is not merely won by power but is ultimately validated by the Supreme who regulates the cosmic hierarchy.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Viṣṇu is presented as the supreme controller of destinies and offices; the rise of Bali is explicitly attributed to Viṣṇu’s grace, reinforcing Viṣṇu’s sovereignty over devas, asuras, and the cosmic order.