Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 10

Brahmā Worships Vāmana; the Demons Attack; Bali is Bound and Questioned About the Third Step

Devanagari script

न वायं ब्रह्मबन्धुर्विष्णुर्मायाविनां वर: । द्विजरूपप्रतिच्छन्नो देवकार्यं चिकीर्षति ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

na vāyaṁ brahma-bandhur viṣṇur māyāvināṁ varaḥ dvija-rūpa-praticchanno deva-kāryaṁ cikīrṣati

Translation

Ang Vamana na ito ay tiyak na hindi isang brāhmaṇa kundi ang pinakamahusay sa mga manlilinlang, ang Panginoong Viṣṇu. Sa pag-aanyo bilang isang brāhmaṇa, tinakpan Niya ang Kanyang sariling anyo, at sa gayon Siya ay gumagawa para sa kapakanan ng mga demigod.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• vā: indeed/for sure (emphatic)
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive/alternative particle; here emphatic)

• ayam: this (person)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• brahma-bandhuḥ: a Brahmin in name only (kinsman of Brahmins)
• brahma-bandhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicative nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (brahmaṇaḥ bandhuḥ) (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• viṣṇuḥ: Vishnu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• māyāvinām: of the illusionists
• māyāvinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicative nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• dvija-rūpa-praticchannaḥ: disguised in the form of a brahmin
• dvija-rūpa-praticchannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + praticchanna (छद्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; तृतीया/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष-भावः (dvija-rūpeṇa praticchannaḥ / dvija-rūpe praticchannaḥ) (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• deva-kāryam: the work of the gods
• deva-kāryam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devānāṁ kāryam) (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• cikīrṣati: wishes to do
• cikīrṣati: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ-धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; देशिदेरिवेटिव्-इच्छार्थक (desiderative) ‘चिकीर्ष’ (Present indicative, 3rd person singular)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Vāmana (implied)
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Vishnu disguising Himself as a brahmana?

This verse states that Viṣṇu, the supreme master of mystic power, conceals Himself in a brāhmaṇa form to accomplish the devas’ divine purpose—protecting cosmic order and dharma.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say that this is not a brahma-bandhu?

In the narrative of Vāmana’s arrival at Bali’s sacrifice, Śukadeva clarifies that the visitor is not an unqualified brāhmaṇa by birth, but Viṣṇu Himself acting under a divine mission.

What is the practical lesson of Vāmana’s disguise in modern life?

Do not judge spiritual potency by external appearance; the Bhagavatam teaches reverence, discernment, and humility, recognizing that the Divine can act through unexpected forms to restore righteousness.