Shloka 6

Vamana's Three Steps — Vamana’s Three Steps and the Binding of Bali

Devanagari script

ततो ऽब्रवीत् सुरश्रेष्ठो दैत्यराजानमव्ययः विहस्य सुचिरं कालं भरद्वाजमवेक्ष्य च

Transliteration

tato 'bravīt suraśreṣṭho daityarājānamavyayaḥ vihasya suciraṃ kālaṃ bharadvājamavekṣya ca

Translation

അനന്തരം ദേവശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ അവ്യയപ്രഭു ദീർഘനേരം പുഞ്ചിരിച്ച്, ഭരദ്വാജനെയും നോക്കി ദൈത്യരാജനോട് അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു।

Speakers

• Vāmana/Viṣṇu speaking to Bali; Bharadvāja is present and is noticed by the Lord.

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Divine concealment and revelation (epithets vs. appearance)
• Witnessing sage (Bharadvāja as dharmic validator)
• Turning point before the boon request

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the text emphasize the Lord’s smile and prolonged pause?

The smile functions as narrative foreshadowing: the Lord’s request will be deceptively small yet cosmically decisive. The pause heightens the dramatic irony—Bali’s generosity is about to meet the Lord’s boundless measure.

What is the significance of the Lord glancing at Bharadvāja?

A ṛṣi’s presence can serve as a dharmic witness to the gift transaction. The glance suggests acknowledgment of Bharadvāja as an authoritative observer, reinforcing that what follows occurs within a recognized moral-ritual framework.

How do “suraśreṣṭha” and “avyaya” shape interpretation of the scene?

They disclose the speaker’s true status: not merely a mendicant brāhmaṇa but the imperishable supreme deity. This dual register—humble form, exalted epithets—is characteristic of avatāra narration and guides the reader to read beyond the surface action.