Shloka 9

Vamana's Three Steps — Vamana’s Three Steps and the Binding of Bali

Devanagari script

सुरारेर्वचनं श्रुत्वा बलिर्भार्यामवेक्ष्य च बाणं च तनयं वीक्ष्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

surārervacanaṃ śrutvā balirbhāryāmavekṣya ca bāṇaṃ ca tanayaṃ vīkṣya idaṃ vacanamabravīt

Translation

دیوتاؤں کے دشمن کے کلام کو سن کر، بلی نے اپنی بیوی کی طرف دیکھا اور اپنے بیٹے بان کو بھی دیکھ کر یہ بات کہی۔

Speakers

• Narrator describing Bali’s reaction; Bali is about to speak (to Vāmana and/or the assembly)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Vāmana)

Key Themes

• Decision-making before dāna
• Household/court counsel (wife and heir)
• Asura–Deva polarity and narrative epithets
• Foreshadowing of vow and consequence

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Vāmana called ‘surāri’ (enemy of the gods) when he is Vishnu?

The epithet is viewpoint-sensitive and contextual. In this episode Viṣṇu acts against the Asura king’s sovereignty; thus, from the Asura-side narrative register, he is framed as the ‘opponent’ in the Deva–Asura contest, even though he is the divine preserver.

What is the significance of Bali looking at his wife and son before speaking?

It signals a moment of counsel and consequence: dāna is not merely personal generosity but a dynastic and political act. The glance suggests weighing household advice, reputation, and the future of the lineage (represented by Bāṇa).

Who is Bāṇa in this context, and why mention him?

Bāṇa (Bāṇāsura) is Bali’s son, later prominent in other Purāṇic cycles. Mentioning him here anchors the scene in royal continuity and heightens the stakes: Bali’s decision affects not only himself but his heirs and the Asura polity.