Shloka 155
The Manifestation of Viṣṇu’s Footprints: Vāmana–Trivikrama, Bāṣkali’s Subjugation, and the Rise of Viṣṇupadī
Gaṅgā
मायया ब्राह्मणं रूपं वामनं च प्रदर्शितम् । अत्र किं बहुनोक्तेन नास्य देयं तु किंचन
māyayā brāhmaṇaṃ rūpaṃ vāmanaṃ ca pradarśitam | atra kiṃ bahunoktena nāsya deyaṃ tu kiṃcana
മായയാൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണരൂപം—വാമനൻ—പ്രദർശിപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു. ഇവിടെ അധികം പറയുന്നതെന്തിന്? അവനു ഒന്നും നല്കരുത്।
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator/dialogue speaker in Adhyaya 30)
Concept: The verse crystallizes asuric counsel: label the divine as ‘illusion’ to justify withholding generosity; it highlights the moral peril of breaking dāna and satya.
Application: Do not dismiss humility or simplicity as ‘mere appearance’; practice generosity consistently, especially when fear urges contraction.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vāmana appears as a small brāhmaṇa dwarf with radiant calm, standing before heaps of promised gifts—gold vessels, cows, grains—while the counselor cuts the air with a decisive palm, urging total refusal. The scene contrasts Vāmana’s luminous simplicity with the court’s anxious opulence; a subtle cosmic footprint motif begins to appear beneath Vāmana, foreshadowing the three strides.","primary_figures":["Vāmana (brāhmaṇa-dwarf form of Viṣṇu)","Bali","asura counselor/preceptor","ritual priests and attendants"],"setting":"Sacrificial pavilion with agni-kunda, darbha mats, gift heaps, cow pens at the edge, ceremonial umbrellas","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit with a rising divine radiance around Vāmana","color_palette":["antique gold","cobalt blue","vermillion","cream white","forest green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vāmana small yet central with intense gold-leaf halo; Bali near the gift heaps; counselor making a firm ‘stop’ gesture; lavish gold leaf on vessels and throne, rich vermillion and green textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate lotus borders and stylized agni flames.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: detailed yajña pavilion with delicate brushwork; Vāmana’s serene face and soft halo; counselor’s decisive gesture; gift heaps rendered with fine texture; cool cobalt shadows with warm gold highlights, lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Vāmana with bold outlines and luminous aura; counselor and Bali in strong profile; ritual objects simplified yet symbolic; red-yellow-green palette with black contouring, temple-wall narrative composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vāmana centered on a lotus medallion, ornate floral borders; gift heaps stylized as patterned mounds; deep blue ground with gold detailing; subtle footprint motifs and conch patterns foreshadowing Viṣṇu’s cosmic stride."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sharp bell strikes","ritual fire crackle","court gasp","brief conch accent"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bahunoktena = bahunā + uktena; nāsya = na + asya.
FAQs
The verse states that a brāhmaṇa/dwarf form was “displayed by māyā,” emphasizing deceptive appearance in the immediate narrative. Whether it is ultimately Viṣṇu’s Vāmana avatāra or a delusive guise depends on the surrounding chapter context.
It reflects a judgment that the figure is not a worthy recipient because the speaker believes the appearance is deceptive. In dharma literature, giving (dāna) is ideally guided by discernment (viveka) regarding intention and deservingness.
Purāṇas often use māyā to show how perception can be manipulated, creating tests of character and discernment. This line highlights suspicion toward appearances and the narrative tension between seeming and being.