Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

बलिं चकार भगवान्पातालतलवासि नम् । भक्त्या त्वनन्यया कृष्णो दैत्येन परितोषितः

Transliteration

baliṃ cakāra bhagavānpātālatalavāsi nam | bhaktyā tvananyayā kṛṣṇo daityena paritoṣitaḥ

Translation

Le Seigneur Bienheureux fit de Bali un habitant de Pātāla, le monde inférieur. Pourtant Kṛṣṇa, réjoui par la dévotion sans partage de ce Daitya, en fut pleinement satisfait.

Word by Word

• बलिम्: Bali
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चकार: made / did
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पातालतलवासी: dwelling on the netherworld’s surface (in Pātāla)
• पातालतलवासी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाताल + तल + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/विशेषण), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बलिं विशेषयति; तत्पुरुषः: पातालतले वासी

• नम्: bow (to him)
• नम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात — Particle (contrast/emphasis)

• अनन्यया: exclusive / undivided
• अनन्यया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; भक्त्या विशेषणम्

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दैत्येन: by the Daitya (Bali)
• दैत्येन: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण/हेतु), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• परितोषितः: fully pleased / gratified
• परितोषितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + तुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — PPP, Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कृष्णस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Prahlāda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Sutala/Pātāla realm of Bali (mythic)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bali, though sent to the netherworld, stands serene in surrender; Kṛṣṇa/Hari is visibly pleased by his unwavering devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Pātāla
• Kṛṣṇa
• Daitya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even when disciplined for cosmic balance, a devotee’s sincere, exclusive bhakti is honored and becomes the cause of divine grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not explicit in this verse; it contributes to the Dvārakā Māhātmya’s devotional theology connected to Kṛṣṇa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the emphasis is on ananya-bhakti (single-minded devotion).