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

सर्वांचा आश्रय असलेल्या त्या पुरुषोत्तमाची शरण जा. हे दानवेन्द्रा, तोच या भयापासून तुझा त्राता होईल.

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.