Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Instructions to Bali, Shloka 56

Prahlada’s Instructions to Bali on Vishnu Worship, Monthly Gifts, and Building Hari’s Temple

Devanagari script

पुलस्त्य उवाच इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं दितीश्वरो वैरोचनं सत्यमनुत्तमं हि संपूजितस्तेन विमुक्तिमाययौ संपूर्णकामो हरिपादभक्तः

Transliteration

pulastya uvāca ityevamuktvā vacanaṃ ditīśvaro vairocanaṃ satyamanuttamaṃ hi saṃpūjitastena vimuktimāyayau saṃpūrṇakāmo haripādabhaktaḥ

Translation

पुलस्त्य म्हणाले—अशा प्रकारे दैत्येश्वर वैरोचन (बली) याला सत्य व सर्वोत्तम वचन सांगून, त्याच्याकडून पूजिला जाऊन ते मुक्तीकडे निघून गेले; त्यांच्या इच्छा पूर्ण झाल्या होत्या आणि ते हरिपादभक्त होते।

Speakers

• Pulastya speaking (to Nārada as the larger frame is typically Pulastya–Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa; addressee not explicitly stated in this verse)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Authority of sage discourse
• Bali (Vairocana) in Purāṇic tradition
• Bhakti to Hari’s feet
• Liberation (vimukti)
• Truth and excellence of dharma teaching

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is “Vairocana” here—Bali or someone else?

In Purāṇic usage, “Vairocana” commonly denotes Bali, the grandson of Prahlāda and son of Virocana. The verse explicitly pairs it with “ditīśvara,” confirming the Daitya king identity.

Whose “vimukti” (liberation) is described—Pulastya’s or Bali’s?

Grammatically, “saṃpūjitaḥ tena” (“honored by him”) points to the speaker/teacher who was honored—Pulastya—followed by “āyayau” (“departed/attained”). Thus the verse narrates Pulastya’s departure to a liberated state, characterized as a devotee of Hari’s feet.

How does this fit the Vāmana–Bali narrative arc?

Even within a narrative centered on Bali and Viṣṇu, the Purāṇa highlights the salvific power of bhakti and dharma-teaching: the sage’s true instruction, honored by the Daitya king, culminates in spiritual fulfillment and liberation, reinforcing the text’s devotional-ethical emphasis.