Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 1), Shloka 35

Kali’s Complaint to Brahma and the Arrival of Śrī (Jayaśrī) in Bali’s Court

Devanagari script

वचनं बलिशुक्राभ्यां श्रुत्वा भागवतो ऽसुरः प्राह धर्मार्थसंयुक्तं प्रह्लादो वाक्यमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

vacanaṃ baliśukrābhyāṃ śrutvā bhāgavato 'suraḥ prāha dharmārthasaṃyuktaṃ prahlādo vākyamuttamam

Translation

Having heard the words of Bali and Śukra, the devoted Asura—Prahlāda—spoke an excellent statement, joined with dharma and artha (righteousness and practical good).

Speakers

• Narrator voice introducing: Prahlāda speaking after hearing Bali and Śukra.

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Bhakti within Asura lineage
• Dharma and artha harmonization
• Ideal counsel
• Moral authority of Prahlāda

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Prahlāda called ‘bhāgavata’ while also being termed an ‘asura’?

The verse highlights a Purāṇic ideal: spiritual identity (bhāgavata—devotee of Vishnu) can transcend birth identity (asura). Prahlāda embodies devotion and dharma even in a lineage opposed to the Devas.

What does ‘dharma-artha-saṃyukta’ indicate about the nature of Prahlāda’s advice?

It signals counsel that is both ethically grounded (dharma) and pragmatically beneficial (artha). In Purāṇic statecraft, advice is praised when it avoids moral absolutism without abandoning righteousness.

Is this ‘uttama vākyam’ a formal genre marker?

It functions as an evaluative tag: the narrator pre-authorizes Prahlāda’s speech as exemplary, preparing the listener to treat the forthcoming counsel as normative teaching within the narrative.