Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Instructions to Bali, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

स एवमास्ते ऽसुरराड् बलिस्तु समर्चयन् वै हरिपादपङ्कजौ सस्मार नित्यं हरिभषितानि स तस्य जातो विनयाङ्कुशस्तु

Transliteration

sa evamāste 'surarāḍ balistu samarcayan vai haripādapaṅkajau sasmāra nityaṃ haribhaṣitāni sa tasya jāto vinayāṅkuśastu

Translation

Thus did Bali, the king of the Asuras, remain (in his appointed state), continually worshipping the lotus-feet of Hari. He constantly recalled the words spoken by Hari; and thereby he became one whose conduct was restrained by the goad of humility.

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing Bali’s state and transformation (contextually within the Vāmana–Bali episode).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Hari)

Key Themes

• Bhakti (devotion)
• Humility (vinaya) as spiritual discipline
• Remembrance of divine instruction (smaraṇa)
• Transformation of the Daitya king
• Grace through surrender

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why are ‘Hari’s lotus-feet’ emphasized here?

In Purāṇic idiom, worship of the Lord’s feet signifies complete surrender (śaraṇāgati) and the acceptance of divine sovereignty. In the Bali narrative, it marks Bali’s shift from imperial pride to devotional submission after encountering Vāmana/Trivikrama.

What does ‘vinayāṅkuśa’ (goad of humility) imply?

Aṅkuśa is the elephant-goad used to guide a powerful animal; metaphorically, humility becomes the inner instrument that directs and restrains a formerly forceful, ego-driven ruler. The verse presents vinaya not as weakness but as disciplined self-governance.

How does remembering ‘Hari’s words’ function as a practice?

Smaraṇa (constant recollection) is treated as a sustaining spiritual discipline: Bali’s ongoing remembrance of Hari’s instruction keeps his devotion active and stabilizes his ethical transformation.