Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 1), Shloka 40

Arrival of Jayashri

Devanagari script

कुलजो व्यसने मग्नः सखा चार्थबहिः कृतः वृद्धो ज्ञातिर्गुणी विप्रः कीर्तीश्च यशसा सह

Transliteration

kulajo vyasane magnaḥ sakhā cārthabahiḥ kṛtaḥ vṛddho jñātirguṇī vipraḥ kīrtīśca yaśasā saha

Translation

কুলজাত আত্মীয় বিপদে নিমগ্ন; বন্ধু সমৃদ্ধি থেকে বহিষ্কৃত; বৃদ্ধ জ্ঞাতি ও গুণী ব্রাহ্মণ—এবং কীর্তি ও যশ—এসবই রক্ষা ও ধারণীয়।

Speakers

• Unspecified in input (didactic voice addressing a ruler/‘putra’ appears in the surrounding verses)

Key Themes

• Rajadharma (kingly duty)
• Protection of dependents and allies
• Maintenance of social order (brāhmaṇa support)
• Fame/renown as a moral consequence

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why are ‘kinsman in distress’ and ‘friend cast out from wealth’ mentioned together?

The verse groups vulnerable dependents and social bonds that a ruler must actively protect: lineage-relations (jñāti) and political/social allies (sakhā). Their decline signals a breakdown of the king’s sustaining role (bharaṇa) and harms public reputation (kīrti/yaśas).

What is the function of ‘vipra’ in this list?

In Purāṇic rajadharma, the brāhmaṇa represents dharma-preservation through counsel, ritual, and learning. Supporting a ‘guṇī vipra’ is both a moral duty and a stabilizing institution for the realm; neglect diminishes the king’s merit and standing.

How do kīrti and yaśas differ here?

Kīrti is immediate renown—what people say and remember in the present—while yaśas is enduring fame/glory that outlasts events. The verse implies that social neglect erodes both present reputation and lasting honor.