Vamana Purana — Merit of Shravana Dvadashi, Shloka 75

The Merit of Śravaṇa-Dvādaśī and the Liberation of a Preta through Gayā Piṇḍa-Rites

Devanagari script

इति द्विजानां वचनं श्रुत्वा दैत्यपतिर्वचः प्राह द्विजेन्द्र ते दद्मि यावदिच्छसि वै धनम्

Transliteration

iti dvijānāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā daityapatirvacaḥ prāha dvijendra te dadmi yāvadicchasi vai dhanam

Translation

द्विजांचे वचन ऐकून दैत्यपति म्हणाला— हे द्विजश्रेष्ठ! तुला जितके धन हवे तितके मी देतो।

Speakers

• Bali (Daityapati) replying to the Brahmins (dvijas/dvijendra)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Vamana—contextual)
• Bali

Key Themes

• Dana (charity)
• Satya (truthfulness)
• Royal generosity
• Testing of virtue (contextual to Vamana narrative)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does Bali’s statement reveal about his dharmic posture in the narrative?

Bali presents himself as a paradigmatic dātā (giver), offering wealth without bargaining—an ethical stance that later heightens the narrative tension when the request becomes cosmically consequential in the Vāmana episode.

Why is the addressee called “dvijendra”?

“Dvijendra” is an honorific for an eminent Brahmin, reinforcing the social-religious protocol that kings uphold: deference to Brahmins and readiness to fulfill their requests as part of rājadharma.

Is the verse primarily theological or ethical?

Ethical and narrative: it foregrounds dāna and royal virtue. The theological dimension (Vishnu’s avatāra-testing) is contextual rather than explicit in the wording of this śloka.