Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Instructions to Bali, Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

ये वृद्धवाक्यानि समाचरन्ति श्रुत्वा दुरुक्तान्यपि पूर्वतस्तु स्निग्धानि पश्चान्नवनीतशुद्धा मोदन्ति ते नात्र विचारमस्ति

Transliteration

ye vṛddhavākyāni samācaranti śrutvā duruktānyapi pūrvatastu snigdhāni paścānnavanītaśuddhā modanti te nātra vicāramasti

Translation

Those who put into practice the words of elders—even if, at first hearing, they seem harsh—later find them affectionate and pure, like clarified butter. Such people rejoice; of this there is no doubt.

Speakers

• Narrator delivering a general dharmic maxim
• framed by Bali’s reform through counsel and devotion.

Key Themes

• Respect for elders (vṛddha-sevā)
• Discipline and delayed understanding
• Ethical pedagogy (harsh at first, beneficial later)
• Transformation through counsel
• Dharma as lived practice

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why compare elders’ counsel to ‘butter’ (navanīta) and purity?

The metaphor conveys that guidance may feel abrasive initially (discipline, restraint, correction), but with time its inner kindness and beneficial essence become evident—like butter/clarified butter representing refined sweetness and purity.

Does ‘duruktāni’ mean elders may speak wrongly?

Here it primarily means ‘harsh-sounding’ or ‘unpleasant to hear’ rather than ethically wrong. The point is about the listener’s initial resistance and the later recognition of the counsel’s benevolent intent.

How does this maxim relate to the Bali narrative?

Bali’s arc exemplifies the teaching: correction—whether from guru, elders, or the divine—can initially feel like loss or humiliation, yet it matures into humility, devotion, and ultimately rejoicing through dharmic alignment.