Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Instructions to Bali, Shloka 47

Prahlada’s Instructions to Bali on Vishnu Worship, Monthly Gifts, and Building Hari’s Temple

Devanagari script

नानावर्णा वैजयन्त्यो महारजनरञ्जिताः मञ्जिष्ठा नवरङ्गीयाः श्वेतपाटलिकाश्रिताः

Transliteration

nānāvarṇā vaijayantyo mahārajanarañjitāḥ mañjiṣṭhā navaraṅgīyāḥ śvetapāṭalikāśritāḥ

Translation

There were many-colored vaijayantī garlands—deeply dyed with great (strong) pigments—tinted with madder (mañjiṣṭhā), newly multihued, and adorned with white pāṭalikā flowers.

Speakers

• Narrator describing the worship materials/ornaments used in Bali’s devotion

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Keśava/Vāsudeva)

Key Themes

• Icon ornamentation (mālā, puṣpa-upacāra)
• Auspicious aesthetics in worship
• Use of natural dyes and flowers in ritual culture
• Viṣṇu iconography (vaijayantī garland motif)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shringara", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Does “vaijayantī” here refer to Viṣṇu’s famous garland or ordinary garlands?

Both senses resonate. In iconography, Vaijayantī is Viṣṇu’s distinctive garland; in ritual description, “vaijayantyaḥ” can also denote splendid garlands offered to the deity. The verse’s focus on dyes and flowers suggests actual garlands prepared for temple worship while invoking Viṣṇu’s emblematic ornament.

Why are dyes like mañjiṣṭhā mentioned in a Purāṇic verse about worship?

Purāṇic worship is materially specific: color, fragrance, and freshness are part of honoring the deity. Mentioning mañjiṣṭhā and strong pigments documents the traditional craft of preparing vivid ritual garlands and decorations, emphasizing abundance and care.

What is the significance of “white pāṭalikā” in the garlands?

White flowers commonly signify purity and auspiciousness in pūjā. The pairing of intense dyes with white pāṭalikā suggests a deliberate aesthetic contrast—rich color balanced by purity—befitting formal temple ornamentation.