Vamana Purana — Bali Learns of Vamana, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

प्रह्लाद उवाच श्रूयतां सर्वमाख्यास्ये यतो वो भयमागतम् येन निस्तेजसो दैत्या जाता दैत्येन्द्र हेतुना

Transliteration

prahlāda uvāca śrūyatāṃ sarvamākhyāsye yato vo bhayamāgatam yena nistejaso daityā jātā daityendra hetunā

Translation

Prahlāda said: Listen— I shall tell everything: from what cause fear has come upon you, and by what reason, O lord of the Daityas, the Daityas have become bereft of splendor—due to a cause connected with you.

Speakers

• Prahlāda speaking to Bali (Daityendra).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (implied as supreme regulator of tejas and fear)

Key Themes

• Tejas as moral-spiritual power
• Karma/causality behind political fortune
• Admonition to rulers (rāja-nīti subordinated to dharma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does 'tejas' mean in this context—mere physical brilliance or something more?

Tejas is a composite power: spiritual merit, moral authority, and the radiance that sustains sovereignty. Its loss signals not only weakened might but a dharmic deficit that invites reversal of fortune.

Why does Prahlāda say the cause is 'connected with you' (Daityendra)?

Purāṇic kingship is ethically charged: the ruler’s conduct affects the collective fate. Prahlāda implies that Bali’s choices (pride, adharma, or misaligned intent) can drain the community’s tejas and precipitate fear.

Is this fear psychological, or does it refer to an impending divine intervention?

In the Bali cycle, fear typically signals an approaching corrective act by the gods—often mediated by Viṣṇu. Prahlāda’s framing prepares the narrative for a dharmic turning point rather than a mere battlefield threat.