Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Instructions to Bali, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

पुलस्त्य उवाच इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं दितीश्वरो वैरोचनं सत्यमनुत्तमं हि संपूजितस्तेन विमुक्तिमाययौ संपूर्णकामो हरिपादभक्तः

Transliteration

pulastya uvāca ityevamuktvā vacanaṃ ditīśvaro vairocanaṃ satyamanuttamaṃ hi saṃpūjitastena vimuktimāyayau saṃpūrṇakāmo haripādabhaktaḥ

Translation

“Pulastya said: Having thus spoken these words—supremely excellent and true—to Vairocana (Bali), the lord of the Daityas, and being honored by him, he departed to liberation; his desires fulfilled, devoted to the feet of Hari.”

Speakers

• Pulastya speaking (to Nārada as the larger frame is typically Pulastya–Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa; addressee not explicitly stated in this verse)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Authority of sage discourse
• Bali (Vairocana) in Purāṇic tradition
• Bhakti to Hari’s feet
• Liberation (vimukti)
• Truth and excellence of dharma teaching

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Who is “Vairocana” here—Bali or someone else?

In Purāṇic usage, “Vairocana” commonly denotes Bali, the grandson of Prahlāda and son of Virocana. The verse explicitly pairs it with “ditīśvara,” confirming the Daitya king identity.

Whose “vimukti” (liberation) is described—Pulastya’s or Bali’s?

Grammatically, “saṃpūjitaḥ tena” (“honored by him”) points to the speaker/teacher who was honored—Pulastya—followed by “āyayau” (“departed/attained”). Thus the verse narrates Pulastya’s departure to a liberated state, characterized as a devotee of Hari’s feet.

How does this fit the Vāmana–Bali narrative arc?

Even within a narrative centered on Bali and Viṣṇu, the Purāṇa highlights the salvific power of bhakti and dharma-teaching: the sage’s true instruction, honored by the Daitya king, culminates in spiritual fulfillment and liberation, reinforcing the text’s devotional-ethical emphasis.