Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 1), Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

यता श्लाघ्यं प्रयास्यद्य यथा कीर्तिर्भवेत्तव यता नायशसो योगस्तथा कुरु महामते

Transliteration

yatā ślāghyaṃ prayāsyadya yathā kīrtirbhavettava yatā nāyaśaso yogastathā kuru mahāmate

Translation

“Act, O great-minded one, in such a way that you may attain what is praiseworthy, that fame may arise for you, and that there be no association with dishonor; do so accordingly.”

Speakers

• Unspecified in the excerpt; an instructor addressing a disciple/son (“mahāmate”).

Key Themes

• Ethics and social reputation (kīrti/ayaśas)
• Normative guidance for conduct
• Praiseworthy action (ślāghya-karma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Does the verse promote mere social approval as the goal of dharma?

It emphasizes kīrti as a byproduct and indicator of dharmic conduct, not as the sole aim. In Purāṇic ethics, good reputation is valued because it reflects trustworthiness and beneficence; however, it is ideally grounded in śreyas (higher good), not vanity.

What is meant by “ayaśaso yogaḥ” (connection with disgrace)?

It refers to any entanglement—actions, companions, or habits—that produces public blame and moral stain. The counsel is preventative: choose conduct that avoids the causes of dishonor (falsehood, cruelty, greed, betrayal of duty).

How does this connect to the broader Purāṇic teaching tradition?

Such verses echo the didactic voice common across Purāṇas: a senior figure instructs a junior on how to live so that worldly life remains aligned with dharma, producing both social harmony and spiritual merit.