Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 2
श्रीभगवानुवाच । पराधीनोऽस्मि विप्रेन्द्र भक्त्या क्रीतोऽस्मि नान्यथा । बलेरादेशकारी च दैत्येन्द्रवशगो ह्यहम्
śrībhagavānuvāca | parādhīno'smi viprendra bhaktyā krīto'smi nānyathā | balerādeśakārī ca daityendravaśago hyaham
ಶ್ರೀಭಗವಾನ್ ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಓ ವಿಪ್ರೇಂದ್ರ, ನಾನು ಭಕ್ತನ ಅಧೀನನು; ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದಲೇ ನಾನು ‘ಖರೀದಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತೇನೆ’, ಬೇರೆ ರೀತಿಯಿಂದಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ಬಲಿಯ ಆದೇಶವನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸುವವನು, ನನ್ನ ವ್ರತದಿಂದ ದೈತ್ಯೇಂದ್ರನ ವಶದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
Śrī Bhagavān (Govinda/Kṛṣṇa; Devadeveśa from prior verse)
Tirtha: Dvārakā
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sages/assembly (implicit)
Scene: The Lord speaks to a revered Brahmin-sage: serene yet emphatic, declaring His dependence on devotion; behind the words stands the unseen weight of the Vāmana–Bali vow, with Bali’s sovereignty honored by the Lord’s own promise.
FAQs
Bhakti is portrayed as supreme: the Lord willingly becomes ‘dependent’ upon the devotee, honoring vows and devotion over mere force.
The teaching is delivered within Dvārakā-māhātmya, linking Dvārakā’s sanctity with the theology of devotion.
No direct rite; it states a dharmic principle—God’s fidelity to vows/commitments (satya and niyama) in relation to Bali.