Vamana Purana — Bali's Sudarshana Worship, Shloka 55

Bali’s Worship of Sudarshana and Prahlada’s Teaching on Vishnu-Bhakti

Devanagari script

विष्णुकर्मप्रसक्तानां भक्तानां या परा गतिः सा तु जन्मसहस्रेण न तपोभिरवाप्यते

Transliteration

viṣṇukarmaprasaktānāṃ bhaktānāṃ yā parā gatiḥ sā tu janmasahasreṇa na tapobhiravāpyate

Translation

The supreme goal attained by devotees who are actively engaged in the works of Vishnu—that highest state—is not obtained even through a thousand births of austerities.

Speakers

• Unspecified in provided excerpt (Adhyaya 67 speaker-context not included in input).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Bhakti and dedicated service (Viṣṇu-karma) as superior means
• Relative insufficiency of tapas without devotion
• Parā gati (supreme goal) doctrine
• Karma-yoga framed as devotional offering

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Does the verse reject tapas (austerity) altogether?

No. It ranks means: austerity without the orientation of devotion is portrayed as insufficient for the ‘supreme goal.’ Tapas can be valuable when integrated with devotion and offered to Vishnu.

What is meant by “viṣṇu-karma”—ritual only, or broader duty?

It is broader than ritual: it includes worship, service, ethical duties, and life-activities performed as offerings to Vishnu—i.e., devotionalized action.

What is the “parā gati” implied here?

It indicates the highest salvific attainment—reaching Vishnu’s supreme station/abode or nearness to Him—presented as the distinctive fruit of devoted engagement.