Vamana Purana — Bali Learns of Vamana, Shloka 53

Bali Learns of Vamana in Aditi’s Womb and Prahlada Teaches Refuge in Hari

Devanagari script

शरण्यं शरणं गच्छ तमेव पुरुषोत्त्मम् स ते त्राता भयादस्माद् दानवेन्द्र भविष्यति

Transliteration

śaraṇyaṃ śaraṇaṃ gaccha tameva puruṣottmam sa te trātā bhayādasmād dānavendra bhaviṣyati

Translation

ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಶರಣ್ಯನಾದ ಆ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮನ ಶರಣು ಸೇರು. ಹೇ ದಾನವೇಂದ್ರ, ಈ ಭಯದಿಂದ ಅವನೇ ನಿನ್ನ ರಕ್ಷಕನಾಗುವನು.

Speakers

• Unspecified in the excerpt (a counselor/teacher figure addressing the Dānava-king; within the Vāmana–Bali narrative context)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge)
• Divine protection from fear
• Bhakti as salvific orientation
• Asura instruction within Purāṇic ethics

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the doctrinal force of “śaraṇyaṃ śaraṇaṃ gaccha” in Purāṇic theology?

It is a compact statement of śaraṇāgati: the recommended remedy for existential fear is surrender to the supreme refuge (Viṣṇu). The verse frames refuge not as mere petition but as a reorientation of allegiance toward Puruṣottama.

Why is an asura-king (dānavendra) instructed to seek Viṣṇu?

Purāṇas often universalize Viṣṇu’s lordship: even opponents are ultimately protected when they turn toward him. This also functions as a moral teaching—status and power do not remove fear; refuge in the divine does.

Does this verse imply a specific avatāra (Vāmana/Trivikrama) here?

Not explicitly. It uses the trans-avatāric title Puruṣottama, preparing the narrative logic that the same Viṣṇu who appears as Vāmana is the ultimate protector when approached with surrender.