Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 1), Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद् द्विजाग्र्याः श्रुतिशास्त्रयुक्ता नराधिपांस्ते क्रतुभिर्द्विजेन्द्रा यज्ञाग्निधूमेन नृपस्य शान्तिः

Transliteration

tasmād dvijāgryāḥ śrutiśāstrayuktā narādhipāṃste kratubhirdvijendrā yajñāgnidhūmena nṛpasya śāntiḥ

Translation

“Therefore, O foremost of twice-born, those Brahmin leaders who are grounded in the Veda and the śāstras should perform sacrifices for the kings; by the smoke of the sacrificial fire arises the pacification (śānti) of the ruler.”

Speakers

• Likely a senior narrator/teacher addressing Bali (Daityendra) within the Bali-governance discourse (exact speaker not specified in the excerpt).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Agni

Key Themes

• Raja-dharma (kingly duty)
• Brahminical ritual authority
• Yajña as instrument of social-cosmic order
• Śānti (pacification/auspiciousness)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is “smoke of the sacrificial fire” said to produce the king’s śānti?

In Purāṇic idiom, “smoke” stands for the successful operation of yajña—its visible sign and its upward conveyance of offerings. The verse compresses the idea that properly performed Vedic rites stabilize the king’s fortune, remove omens and disturbances, and align the polity with ṛta/dharma.

Does this verse imply kings depend on Brahmins for legitimacy?

It reflects the classical Purāṇic model of interdependence: the king protects and supports, while Brahmins maintain ritual-ethical order through śruti-śāstra competence and sacrificial performance. The king’s ‘śānti’ is thus framed as a dharmic outcome of this partnership.

Is any specific sacrifice (kratu) intended here?

No single kratu is named. The plural suggests a range of royal rites (e.g., seasonal, expiatory, prosperity rites). The emphasis is on qualified officiants (śrutiśāstrayuktā) rather than a particular ritual type.