Vamana Purana — Bali's Sudarshana Worship, Shloka 10

Bali’s Worship of Sudarshana and Prahlada’s Teaching on Vishnu-Bhakti

Devanagari script

अथाभ्यागात् सहस्रारं विष्णोश्चक्रं सुदर्शनम् ततो ऽसुरपतिः प्रह्वः कृताञ्जलिपुटो मुने संपूज्य विधिवच्चक्रमिदं स्तोत्रमुदीरयत्

Transliteration

athābhyāgāt sahasrāraṃ viṣṇoścakraṃ sudarśanam tato 'surapatiḥ prahvaḥ kṛtāñjalipuṭo mune saṃpūjya vidhivaccakramidaṃ stotramudīrayat

Translation

Kemudian datanglah Sudarśana, cakra Viṣṇu yang bersisi seribu. Lalu, wahai resi, raja Asura Bali menunduk hormat dengan tangan bersedekap, memuja cakra itu menurut tata, dan melantunkan kidung pujian ini.

Speakers

• Narrator addressing a sage (‘mune’) while describing Bali’s actions; Bali is about to speak the stotra.

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Vamana)
• Sudarshana (personified divine discus)

Key Themes

• Ritual correctness (vidhi)
• Devotional humility (añjali, prahva)
• Asura king acknowledging divine supremacy
• Personification and praise of Sudarśana

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the text emphasize ‘vidhivat’ (according to rule) in Bali’s worship?

It underscores that true worship is not merely emotional but also conforms to ritual order. In Purāṇic theology, even an Asura can accrue merit and demonstrate dharmic conduct through correct pūjā.

What does ‘sahasrāra’ convey beyond a physical description?

Besides ‘many-spoked,’ it suggests cosmic reach and irresistible motion—Sudarśana as the all-pervading, orderly force that cuts through adharma in every direction.

Why is the narrator addressing ‘mune’ here?

This is a common Purāṇic framing device: the story is recited within a dialogue setting, and the narrator periodically addresses the listening sage to maintain the conversational transmission of sacred history.