Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode

Devanagari script

ततः प्रह्लादवचनाद् बलिर्वैरोचनिर्हरिम् / जगाम शरणं विश्वं पालयामास धर्मतः

Transliteration

tataḥ prahlādavacanād balirvairocanirharim / jagāma śaraṇaṃ viśvaṃ pālayāmāsa dharmataḥ

Translation

ついでプラフラーダの勧めにより、ヴィローチャナの子バリはハリ（Hari）に帰依した。彼はダルマを守り、全世界を護持した。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Time (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/अनन्तर (thereafter)

• प्रह्लाद-वचनात्: from Prahlāda’s words (on Prahlāda’s advice)
• प्रह्लाद-वचनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (genitive tatpuruṣa: प्रह्लादस्य वचनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वचन), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (ablative/5th), एकवचन (singular)

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• वैरोचनिः: (son) of Virocana
• वैरोचनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरोचनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बलिः इत्यस्य विशेषण/अपत्यनाम (patronymic: son of Virocana)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शरणं जगाम’ (object-complement)

• विश्वम्: universal, all-encompassing
• विश्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; शरणम् इत्यस्य विशेषण (qualifier)

• पालयामास: ruled, protected
• पालयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (periphrastic perfect/परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘पालयामास’ = ‘पालयति स्म’

• धर्मतः: according to dharma, righteously
• धर्मतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्मतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb), ‘धर्मानुसारम्’

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic episode to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada
• Bali
• Virocana
• Hari (Vishnu)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By presenting Hari as the ultimate refuge (śaraṇa), the verse implies a supreme, sustaining Lord as the ground of order; the king’s dharmic rule becomes stable when aligned with that higher reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (surrender/taking refuge) as a practical spiritual discipline: aligning intention and action with the Lord’s will, which in Kurma Purana’s ethic supports inner steadiness and righteous conduct.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

Though Hari is named explicitly, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis frames refuge in the Supreme as compatible with Shaiva-Vaishnava unity—devotion and dharma culminate in one Lord beyond sectarian division.