Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

बलिं चकार भगवान्पातालतलवासि नम् । भक्त्या त्वनन्यया कृष्णो दैत्येन परितोषितः

Transliteration

baliṃ cakāra bhagavānpātālatalavāsi nam | bhaktyā tvananyayā kṛṣṇo daityena paritoṣitaḥ

Translation

Благословенный Господь сделал Бали обитателем Паталы, подземного мира. И всё же Кришна, довольный его безраздельной преданностью, был им вполне удовлетворён.

Word by Word

• बलिम्: Bali
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चकार: made / did
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पातालतलवासी: dwelling on the netherworld’s surface (in Pātāla)
• पातालतलवासी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाताल + तल + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/विशेषण), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बलिं विशेषयति; तत्पुरुषः: पातालतले वासी

• नम्: bow (to him)
• नम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात — Particle (contrast/emphasis)

• अनन्यया: exclusive / undivided
• अनन्यया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; भक्त्या विशेषणम्

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दैत्येन: by the Daitya (Bali)
• दैत्येन: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण/हेतु), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• परितोषितः: fully pleased / gratified
• परितोषितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + तुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — PPP, Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कृष्णस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Prahlāda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Sutala/Pātāla realm of Bali (mythic)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bali, though sent to the netherworld, stands serene in surrender; Kṛṣṇa/Hari is visibly pleased by his unwavering devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Pātāla
• Kṛṣṇa
• Daitya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even when disciplined for cosmic balance, a devotee’s sincere, exclusive bhakti is honored and becomes the cause of divine grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not explicit in this verse; it contributes to the Dvārakā Māhātmya’s devotional theology connected to Kṛṣṇa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the emphasis is on ananya-bhakti (single-minded devotion).