Vamana Purana — Bali's Sudarshana Worship, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

गच्छन् तिष्ठन् स्वपन् जाग्रत् पिबन्नश्चन्नभीक्ष्णशः ध्यायन् नारायणं यस्तु न ततो ऽन्यो ऽस्ति पुण्यभाक् वैकुण्ठं खड्गपरशुं भवबन्धसमुच्छिदम्

Transliteration

gacchan tiṣṭhan svapan jāgrat pibannaścannabhīkṣṇaśaḥ dhyāyan nārāyaṇaṃ yastu na tato 'nyo 'sti puṇyabhāk vaikuṇṭhaṃ khaḍgaparaśuṃ bhavabandhasamucchidam

Translation

ଚାଲୁଥିବାବେଳେ, ଦାଁଡାଇଥିବାବେଳେ, ଶୋଇଥିବାବେଳେ, ଜାଗିଥିବାବେଳେ, ପିଉଥିବା ଓ ଖାଉଥିବା ସମୟରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯେ ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ନାରାୟଣଙ୍କୁ ଧ୍ୟାନ କରେ, ତାହାଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ ପୁଣ୍ୟଭାଗୀ ଅନ୍ୟ କେହି ନାହିଁ। ସେ ବୈକୁଣ୍ଠ ପାଏ; ପ୍ରଭୁ ଖଡ୍ଗ-ପରଶୁ ରୂପେ ସଂସାରବନ୍ଧନକୁ ଛେଦନ କରନ୍ତି।

Speakers

• Not specified in the excerpt (didactic phalaśruti-style statement within Adhyaya 67).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Narayana

Key Themes

• Nārāyaṇa-smaraṇa (constant remembrance)
• Phalaśruti (promise of spiritual fruit)
• Mokṣa (liberation)
• Severing saṃsāra-bondage
• Bhakti integrated with daily activities

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the verse list ordinary actions like walking, eating, and sleeping?

It teaches that Nārāyaṇa-smaraṇa is not confined to ritual moments; remembrance can pervade all states of life (waking/sleeping) and all activities, making devotion continuous rather than occasional.

What is meant by ‘Vaikuṇṭha, sword and axe’ in the same line?

Vaikuṇṭha indicates the goal (liberated state/abode). ‘Sword’ and ‘axe’ function as theological symbols: the Lord’s power to cut ignorance and attachment, i.e., to sever bhava-bandha (saṃsāric bondage).

Is this primarily a tīrtha verse or a dharma teaching?

Although placed within a geography-oriented māhātmya chapter, this particular śloka is a dharma/phalaśruti teaching: it universalizes the chapter’s merit by grounding it in constant devotion rather than location-specific ritual alone.