Vamana Purana — Jabali on the Banyan Tree, Shloka 28

Jabali Bound on the Banyan Tree and Nandayanti’s Appeal at Sri-Kantha on the Yamuna

Devanagari script

ततो विसर्जयामास भृत्यान् भ्रातृन् सुहृत्तमान् शुक्रशिष्यानपि बली एकाकी नृप आव्रजत्

Transliteration

tato visarjayāmāsa bhṛtyān bhrātṛn suhṛttamān śukraśiṣyānapi balī ekākī nṛpa āvrajat

Translation

ତାପରେ ବଲି ନିଜ ଭୃତ୍ୟ, ଭ୍ରାତା ଓ ଅତି ପ୍ରିୟ ସୁହୃଦମାନଙ୍କୁ—ଶୁକ୍ରଙ୍କ ଶିଷ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ—ବିଦାୟ କରିଦେଲେ, ଏବଂ ରାଜା ଏକାକୀ ଫେରିଲେ।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘then/from there’

• विसर्जयामास: dismissed
• विसर्जयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘sent away/dismissed’

• भृत्यान्: servants
• भृत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• भ्रातॄन्: brothers
• भ्रातॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (ऋ-प्रातिपदिक)

• सुहृत्-तमन्: dearest friends
• सुहृत्-तमन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तम (तद्धित/प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘तम’ superlative suffix: ‘best friends’

• शुक्र-शिष्यान्: disciples of Śukra
• शुक्र-शिष्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ‘शुक्रस्य शिष्याः’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• बली: Bali (the mighty one)
• बली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण ‘the mighty (Bali)’

• एकाकी: alone
• एकाकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘alone’

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आव्रजत्: went/approached
• आव्रजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Narratorial voice describing Bali’s actions (listener not specified in the excerpt).

Primary Deities

• Śukra (asura-guru, preceptor figure)

Key Themes

• Secrecy/solitude before a decisive encounter
• Kingship and private resolve
• Guru–disciple networks (Śukra’s śiṣyas)
• Narrative pacing toward a household/inner-chamber scene

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the text emphasize that Bali dismisses even Śukra’s disciples?

It signals a deliberate withdrawal from counsel, surveillance, and ritual protocol. Mentioning Śukra’s śiṣyas highlights that Bali is stepping outside the usual guru-mediated sphere, preparing for a personal, intimate, or morally charged interaction.

Does ‘āvrajat’ indicate returning to a specific place?

Āvrajat commonly means ‘returned/went back,’ but the destination is not named here. The next verse’s domestic reception implies a return to a residence or inner quarters rather than a pilgrimage site.

How does this fit the Vāmana Purāṇa’s Bali material?

Bali is a recurring figure in Vāmana-centered traditions. Even when Vāmana is not explicitly present in a given śloka, the narrative often alternates between public court/ritual space and private household space to set up key moral and relational turns.