Vamana Purana — Bali's Sudarshana Worship, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

ततो विन्ध्यावली प्राह सान्त्वयन्ती निजं पतिम् कोशे खङ्गं समावेश्य धर्मपत्नी शुचिव्रता

Transliteration

tato vindhyāvalī prāha sāntvayantī nijaṃ patim kośe khaṅgaṃ samāveśya dharmapatnī śucivratā

Translation

ततो विन्ध्यावली सान्त्वयन्ती निजं पतिम् प्राह। शुचिव्रता धर्मपत्नी खङ्गं कोशे समावेश्य॥

Speakers

• Vindhyāvalī speaking to Bali

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Counsel and restraint
• Idealized spousal dharma (dharma-patnī)
• Pacification over impulsive violence
• Courtly ethics within mythic conflict

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vindhyāvalī ‘dharma-patnī’ and ‘śuci-vratā’?

These epithets frame her as an ethical stabilizer: a spouse who upholds dharma and disciplined conduct, legitimizing her authority to counsel the king and redirect him from rash action.

Why is the act of sheathing the sword narrated explicitly?

It externalizes a shift from immediate martial reaction to reflective listening. The physical retraction of the weapon signals the restoration of composure and the opening of dialogue.

Does this verse imply a broader Purāṇic ideal of queenship?

Yes. Vindhyāvalī embodies the motif of the wise consort who preserves order within the household/kingdom by restraint, counsel, and dharmic clarity—especially crucial amid cosmic upheaval.