Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 24

The Appearance of Vāmanadeva and His Arrival at Bali’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

मौञ्‍ज्या मेखलया वीतमुपवीताजिनोत्तरम् । जटिलं वामनं विप्रं मायामाणवकं हरिम् ॥ २४ ॥ प्रविष्टं वीक्ष्य भृगव: सशिष्यास्ते सहाग्निभि: । प्रत्यगृह्णन्समुत्थाय सङ्‌क्षिप्तास्तस्य तेजसा ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

mauñjyā mekhalayā vītam upavītājinottaram jaṭilaṁ vāmanaṁ vipraṁ māyā-māṇavakaṁ harim

Translation

主瓦摩那天神化现为婆罗门童子，腰系牟阇草带，佩戴圣线，披鹿皮上衣，发结成髻，步入祭祀会场。祂的神圣光辉使诸祭司与弟子之光黯然；众人遂起身顶礼，依仪恭敬迎接。

Synonyms

• मौञ्ज्या: with a muñja cord
• मौञ्ज्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौञ्जी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन — 'by/with a muñja-girdle/cord'

• मेखलया: with a belt
• मेखलया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन — 'with a belt/girdle'

• वीतम्: encircled, girded
• वीतम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीत (√वी/वे ‘to weave/encircle’ इति धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन — 'encircled/covered' (qualifying हरिम्)

• उपवीत-अजिन-उत्तरम्: with sacred thread and antelope-skin upper garment
• उपवीत-अजिन-उत्तरम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक) + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (निर्धारण/विशेषण), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'having upper garment of antelope-skin and sacred thread' (qualifying हरिम्)

• जटिलम्: matted-haired
• जटिलम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'matted-haired' (qualifying हरिम्)

• वामनम्: Vāmana, the dwarf
• वामनम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'dwarf (Vāmana)' (qualifying हरिम्)

• विप्रम्: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'a brāhmaṇa' (appositional to हरिम्)

• माया-माणवकम्: a wondrous boy (by māyā)
• माया-माणवकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + माणवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'a wondrous/illusory boy (brahmacārin)' (appositional to हरिम्)

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'Hari' (object understood with context)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vāmana/Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vāmana’s appearance as a brāhmaṇa boy?

This verse describes Vāmana as Hari in the form of a dwarf brāhmaṇa-brahmacārī, marked by the muñja belt, sacred thread, deerskin, and matted hair—signs of Vedic ascetic discipline and divine purpose.

Why did Lord Viṣṇu come as Vāmana in the Bali Mahārāja story?

Vāmana appears to approach Bali in a humble brāhmaṇa form, initiating the divine test that draws out Bali’s truthfulness and culminates in Bali’s surrender to the Lord.

Practical application: what can we learn from Vāmana’s humble form?

Great spiritual power may come in simple, humble appearances; the verse encourages reverence, humility, and discernment rather than judging by external size or status.