Vamana Purana — Bali Learns of Vamana, Shloka 2

Bali Learns of Vamana in Aditi’s Womb and Prahlada Teaches Refuge in Hari

Devanagari script

निस्तेजसो ऽसुरान् दृष्ट्वा प्रह्लादं दानवेश्वरम् बलिर्दानवशार्दूल इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

nistejaso 'surān dṛṣṭvā prahlādaṃ dānaveśvaram balirdānavaśārdūla idaṃ vacanamabravīt

Translation

Seeing the Asuras bereft of splendor, Bali—the tiger among the Dānavas—addressed Prahlāda, the lord of the Dānavas, with these words.

Speakers

• Narrator voice (contextual narration) leading into Bali speaking to Prahlāda

Primary Deities

• (Implicit) Viṣṇu
• (Implicit) Indra

Key Themes

• Loss of tejas (spiritual/political power)
• Daitya polity and counsel
• Prelude to doctrinal explanation (cause of decline)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does ‘tejas’ signify here—mere physical brightness or something broader?

Tejas in Purāṇic usage is a composite of radiance, vitality, authority, and merit-born potency. ‘Nistejasaḥ’ indicates a collapse of power and auspicious force, often tied to dharma/adharma, tapas, or divine favor.

Why is Prahlāda singled out as ‘dānaveśvara’ when Bali is king?

Prahlāda functions as the elder exemplar and spiritual authority among the Daityas—renowned for devotion and discernment. The epithet marks him as a preeminent guide whose counsel can diagnose the community’s decline beyond mere politics.

How does this verse fit the Vāmana–Bali narrative arc?

It sets the problem-state: the Daityas have lost their tejas. The ensuing dialogue typically explains causal factors (ethical, ritual, or divine) that lead into Bali’s later encounter with Viṣṇu as Vāmana/Trivikrama.