Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

तस्मात् त्वमपि राजेन्द्र कारयस्वालयं हरेः तमर्चयस्व यत्नेन ब्राह्मणांश्च बहुश्रुतान् पौराणिकान् विशेषेण सदाचाररताञ्शुचीन्

Transliteration

tasmāt tvamapi rājendra kārayasvālayaṃ hareḥ tamarcayasva yatnena brāhmaṇāṃśca bahuśrutān paurāṇikān viśeṣeṇa sadācāraratāñśucīn

Translation

پس اے راجندر! تم بھی ہری کا ایک آلیہ (مندر) تعمیر کراؤ۔ پوری کوشش سے اس کی ارچنا کرو؛ اور بہت سنے-پڑھے برہمنوں کو—خصوصاً پورانوں کے جاننے والوں کو—جو پاکیزہ اور سُدھ آچار میں رَت ہیں، عزت دو۔

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic speaker) instructing a king (rājendra)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Temple patronage (ālaya-karaṇa)
• Arcana (iconic worship)
• Support of learned Brāhmaṇas
• Purāṇic transmission (paurāṇika)
• Sadācāra (ethical-ritual discipline)
• Royal dharma and merit-making

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the text emphasize ‘paurāṇikān viśeṣeṇa’ (Purāṇa-knowers especially)?

Because tīrtha-māhātmya authority depends on correct narration, ritual framing, and calendrical/rite knowledge. Paurāṇikas preserve and publicly transmit the site’s sanctity through recitation and instruction, making them key agents in sustaining a sacred geography.

Is building a temple (‘ālaya’) presented as equivalent to pilgrimage?

The verse links them as complementary merit-paths: pilgrimage follows the sanctified mārga, while temple-foundation localizes sanctity, creating a stable ‘node’ in the sacred landscape. Both are framed as means toward Viṣṇuloka when done with worship and proper support of virtuous, learned Brāhmaṇas.

What qualifies the Brāhmaṇas to be honored here?

Not merely birth-status but a triad: learning (bahuśruta), specialized Purāṇic competence (paurāṇika), and ethical-ritual integrity (sadācāra, śuci). This reflects a Purāṇic norm that patronage should be directed toward worthy recipients to yield full religious fruit.