Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 44
विष्णवे पृथिवीं दत्त्वा बलिः पातालमाश्रितः । सत्यवाक्यं समाश्रित्य न निष्क्रामति दैत्यपः
viṣṇave pṛthivīṃ dattvā baliḥ pātālamāśritaḥ | satyavākyaṃ samāśritya na niṣkrāmati daityapaḥ
Après avoir donné la terre à Viṣṇu, Bali se réfugia en Pātāla. S’appuyant sur sa parole de vérité, ce seigneur des Daityas ne s’en écarte point.
Narrative voice (contextual, not explicit in this verse)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sakhyaḥ (companions)
Scene: Vāmana receiving the gift of earth; Bali, humbled yet steadfast, later shown residing in Pātāla, bound by his own truthful promise.
FAQs
A vow once given in truth binds even the mighty; satya safeguards dharma more than power or status.
No explicit tīrtha is named in the verse; it supports the Māhātmya’s ethical framework for pilgrimage and sacred conduct.
The implied prescription is dāna (gift) upheld by satya—charity becomes dharmic when one honors the pledged word.