Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
आप ही प्राणियोंकी सृष्टि करते हैं, आप ही समस्त प्रजाका संहार करते हैं और आप ही मनुष्योंसहित सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंकी सनातन प्रकृति (मूल कारण) हैं ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | samprahasya tato viṣṇur idaṃ vacanam abravīt | cakreṇa nihatā daityāḥ padbhyāṃ krāntā vasundharā | varāharūpaṃ dhṛtvā hiraṇyākṣo nipātitaḥ | vāmanabrāhmaṇarūpeṇa baliḥ jitavān mayā |
Bhīṣma berkata: Lalu Viṣṇu, sambil tersenyum, mengucapkan kata-kata ini: “Wahai Raja para dewa! Dengan cakraku Aku menumpas para Daitya; dengan dua langkah-Ku Aku meliputi bumi. Dengan mengambil wujud Varāha Aku merobohkan raksasa Hiraṇyākṣa; dan dengan menyamar sebagai Brahmana-katai Vāmana Aku menundukkan Raja Bali.”
भीष्म उवाच
Power is justified when it serves dharma: Vishnu cites his avataric deeds to show that divine authority acts to restrain destructive forces and re-establish order, not for personal gain.
Bhishma reports Vishnu’s own words: Vishnu recounts key exploits—slaying Daityas with the discus, covering the earth with strides (Vamana), defeating Hiranyaksha as Varaha, and subduing Bali as Vamana—presenting these as proofs of his protective role.