Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 1), Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

यन्मया तात कर्तव्यं त्रैलोक्यं परिरक्षता धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेभ्यस्तदादिशतु मे भवान्

Transliteration

yanmayā tāta kartavyaṃ trailokyaṃ parirakṣatā dharmārthakāmamokṣebhyastadādiśatu me bhavān

Translation

‘O dear father/elder, what should be done by me, as one who protects the three worlds? Let you instruct me concerning dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa.’

Speakers

• Bali speaking to Prahlāda.

Primary Deities

• None explicitly named

Key Themes

• Purusharthas (dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣa)
• Rajadharma (king’s duty to protect realms)
• Ethics of sovereignty
• Instruction lineage (Prahlāda as dharma-authority)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Bali ask about all four puruṣārthas rather than only dharma?

The verse frames kingship as integrative: governance (artha) and regulated enjoyment (kāma) must be grounded in dharma, while mokṣa remains the ultimate horizon. This is a classical Purāṇic synthesis rather than a purely ascetic ethic.

What does ‘protecting the three worlds’ imply in the Bali cycle?

It indicates Bali’s imperial claim after subduing the Devas. The phrase also foreshadows the cosmic rebalancing: when an Asura holds trailokya, Viṣṇu’s avatāra acts to restore the rightful distribution of sovereignty.

Does ‘tāta’ mean Prahlāda is Bali’s biological father?

No. Prahlāda is Bali’s grandfather in standard genealogy (Prahlāda → Virocana → Bali). ‘Tāta’ functions as a respectful elder-address and can be translated as ‘dear elder’ or ‘revered grandsire’ depending on context.