Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 1), Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

यदायत्यां क्षमं राजन् यद्धितं भुवनस्य च अविरोधेन धर्मस्य अर्थस्योपार्जनं च यत्

Transliteration

yadāyatyāṃ kṣamaṃ rājan yaddhitaṃ bhuvanasya ca avirodhena dharmasya arthasyopārjanaṃ ca yat

Translation

“O King, that which is sustainable for the future, and that which is beneficial for the world; and that acquisition of artha (resources/power) which occurs without conflicting with dharma—[that is what should be chosen].”

Speakers

• Prahlāda addressing King Bali (with Śukra present).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Dharma-artha balance
• Long-term welfare (āyati)
• Kingship ethics
• Non-contradiction with dharma
• Public good (loka-hita/bhuvana-hita)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the core teaching of this verse in terms of rājadharma (ethics of kingship)?

Policy and gain (artha) are legitimate only when they are future-proof (āyati-kṣama), oriented to the welfare of the realm (bhuvana-hita), and pursued without violating dharma (avirodhena dharmasya).

How does ‘bhuvana’ function here—cosmic ‘world’ or political ‘realm’?

It can carry both senses: the king’s realm (subjects, social order) and the broader cosmic order upheld by dharma. Prahlāda’s counsel deliberately links political prudence to cosmic-moral stability.

How does this counsel relate to the wider Vāmana–Bali narrative?

Within the Bali cycle, the tension is between immediate advantage and dharmic integrity—especially around promises, gifts, and the encounter with Vishnu as Vāmana. Prahlāda’s standard is that artha must not be gained by compromising dharma, even under pressure.