Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 48
Description of the Demons’ Austerities
Why the Gods Won
तपसा निर्जित्य देवान्हरिष्यामः स्वकं पदम् । एवमामंत्र्य ते सर्वे निराकृत्य बलिं तदा
tapasā nirjitya devānhariṣyāmaḥ svakaṃ padam | evamāmaṃtrya te sarve nirākṛtya baliṃ tadā
“Dengan kekuatan tapa, kami akan menaklukkan para dewa dan merebut kedudukan yang menjadi hak kami.” Setelah berkata demikian, mereka semua berpamitan, lalu saat itu juga menolak Bali.
Narrator (context not provided to identify a named speaker with certainty)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: vira
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवान्हरिष्यामः = देवान् + हरिष्यामः (नकारादेश/अनुस्वारसन्धि लेखन); एवमामंत्र्य = एवम् + आमन्त्र्य (मकार-सन्धि); आमंत्र्य→आमन्त्र्य (अनुस्वार/नासिक्य-लेखनभेद)।
FAQs
It presents tapas as a means believed capable of overpowering even the gods, highlighting how spiritual discipline can be pursued for domination as well as for liberation.
Bali is the famed asura king; the verse suggests a political/strategic abandonment—his associates set him aside after declaring their plan to win power through austerities.
The verse cautions that ascetic power without dharma can fuel ambition and betrayal, turning spiritual practice into a tool for conquest rather than moral transformation.