Vamana Purana — Bali's Sudarshana Worship, Shloka 21

Bali’s Worship of Sudarshana and Prahlada’s Teaching on Vishnu-Bhakti

Devanagari script

स चापि संस्मृतः प्राप्तः सुतलं दानवेश्वरः दृष्ट्वा तस्थौ महातेजाः सार्घपात्रो बलिस्तदा

Transliteration

sa cāpi saṃsmṛtaḥ prāptaḥ sutalaṃ dānaveśvaraḥ dṛṣṭvā tasthau mahātejāḥ sārghapātro balistadā

Translation

സ്മരിക്കപ്പെട്ട ആ ദാനവേശ്വരൻ സുതലത്തിലേക്ക് എത്തി. ബലിയെ കണ്ട ആ മഹാതേജസ്വി അവിടെ നിന്നു; അപ്പോൾ ബലിയും അർഘ്യപാത്രം കൈയിൽ പിടിച്ച് നിന്നിരുന്നു.

Speakers

• Narrative frame (Pulastya’s discourse to Nārada continues); this verse is third-person narration within the frame.

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Remembrance (smaraṇa) as a summoning force
• Hospitality and ritual reception (argha)
• Aftermath of the Vāmana–Bali episode
• Daitya lineage as vehicle for dharma instruction

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is the ‘dānaveśvara’ that arrives when remembered?

In this chapter’s flow, Bali remembers his grandsire Prahlāda; thus ‘dānaveśvara’ (“lord among Dānavas”) points to Prahlāda, famed for devotion and counsel within the Daitya line.

Why is Bali described as holding an argha-vessel?

The argha-pātra signifies formal reception of a revered guest (ātithi-satkāra). Even in Sutala, Bali maintains Vedic-ritual etiquette, underscoring dharma as conduct rather than mere status.

What is Sutala’s significance in the Vāmana–Bali narrative?

Sutala is the netherworld realm granted to Bali after Vāmana/Trivikrama’s three strides; it becomes a paradoxical ‘exile-as-grace’ space where Bali continues righteous rule under divine oversight.