Vamana Purana — Portents at Bali's Sacrifice, Shloka 4

Portents at Bali’s Sacrifice and the Kośakāra’s Son: The Power of Past Karma

Devanagari script

तान् दृष्ट्वा घोररुपांस्तु उत्पातान् दानवेश्वरः पप्रच्छोशनसं शुक्रं प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलिः

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā ghorarupāṃstu utpātān dānaveśvaraḥ papracchośanasaṃ śukraṃ praṇipatya kṛtāñjaliḥ

Translation

Melihat pertanda-pertanda yang mengerikan itu, penguasa para Dānava (Bali) menunduk memberi hormat kepada Uśanas—Śukra—lalu dengan tangan terkatup ia mengajukan pertanyaan.

Speakers

• Narrator describing Bali’s approach to Śukra (Bali to Śukra implied as the next speech-act)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Śukra (Uśanas)

Key Themes

• Omens as dharmic warning
• Guru–śiṣya protocol (reverent inquiry)
• Fate vs. counsel before yajña

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Bali approach Śukra with praṇāma and añjali?

In Purāṇic polity and ritual culture, a king’s correct response to cosmic irregularities (utpāta) is to consult a competent ācārya. The gesture signals submission to śāstra-guided interpretation rather than impulsive action.

What is the narrative function of ‘ghorarūpa utpāta’ here?

The portents foreshadow a turning point in Bali’s sovereignty: the impending arrival of Viṣṇu as Vāmana and the consequent loss (yet eventual exaltation) of Bali. Omens create moral and dramatic pressure to heed counsel.

Is Śukra treated as a deity or a human teacher?

Both registers operate: Śukra is a ṛṣi/ācārya of the Bhṛgu lineage and also the cosmic ‘Śukra’ associated with Venus. The text leverages his authority in ritual, astrology, and dharma to interpret signs.