Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Instructions to Bali, Shloka 42

Prahlada’s Instructions to Bali on Vishnu Worship, Monthly Gifts, and Building Hari’s Temple

Devanagari script

अपि नः सन्ततौ जातो ध्वजं चकेशवमन्दिरे दास्यते देवदेवाय दीपं पुष्पानुलेपनम्

Transliteration

api naḥ santatau jāto dhvajaṃ cakeśavamandire dāsyate devadevāya dīpaṃ puṣpānulepanam

Translation

ในเชื้อสายของเราจะมีผู้ใดเกิดมาเพื่อถวายธวัชะในวิหารของเกศวะ และถวายแด่เทวเทวะซึ่งประทีป ดอกไม้ และอนุเลปนะ (เครื่องทาเจิม) หรือไม่?

Speakers

• Pitṛs (ancestors) addressing the nṛpatisattama (best of kings)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Keśava)

Key Themes

• Tirtha Mahima
• Temple service (arcana, upacāra)
• Pitṛ-connection through pious acts
• Merit through offerings (dīpa, puṣpa, anulepana, dhvaja)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is offering a dhvaja (temple banner) singled out along with lamp and flowers?

In Purāṇic temple-economy, a dhvaja is a public, enduring marker of devotion tied to festival processions and the deity’s ‘victory’ symbolism. Along with dīpa (light) and puṣpa/anulepana (adornment), it represents sustained temple-upkeep rather than a one-time private rite, hence its strong merit.

How do the Pitṛs relate to offerings made to Viṣṇu?

Many Purāṇas link descendants’ devotional acts (especially at tīrthas and temples) to the uplift of ancestors. The Pitṛs’ speech frames temple-service as a transgenerational dharma that benefits both the living lineage and the departed.

Does ‘devadevāya’ imply Śiva here?

Not necessarily. ‘Devadeva’ is a common epithet for the supreme deity being worshiped in context. Because the verse explicitly locates the offering in Keśava’s temple, the epithet functions here for Viṣṇu/Keśava.