Shloka 1

Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 2) — Kali’s Complaint to Brahma and the Arrival of Śrī (Jayaśrī) in Bali’s Reign

Devanagari script

इति श्रीवामनपुराणे अष्टचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः पुलस्त्य उवाच ततो गतेषु देवेषु ब्रह्मलोकं प्रति द्विज त्रैलोक्यं पालयामास बलिर्धर्मान्वितः सदा

Transliteration

iti śrīvāmanapurāṇe aṣṭacatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ pulastya uvāca tato gateṣu deveṣu brahmalokaṃ prati dvija trailokyaṃ pālayāmāsa balirdharmānvitaḥ sadā

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രീ വാമനപുരാണത്തിലെ അഷ്ടചത്വാരിംശ അധ്യായം സമാപ്തം. പുലസ്ത്യൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ദ്വിജാ! ദേവന്മാർ ബ്രഹ്മലോകത്തേക്ക് പോയശേഷം, സദാ ധർമ്മാന്വിതനായ ബലി ത്രൈലോക്യം ഭരിച്ചു।

Speakers

• Pulastya to a dvija (standardly Nārada)

Primary Deities

• Brahma
• Vishnu (Vamana/Trivikrama)
• Devas (collective)
• Bali

Key Themes

• Rājadharma (kingship as protection)
• Cosmic administration of the three worlds
• Aftermath of divine intervention
• Moralized portrayal of Bali

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why do the gods go to Brahmaloka after the episode?

Brahmaloka functions as the administrative and consultative apex in many Purāṇas. The gods’ departure indicates a return to cosmic order after the crisis, and it also transitions the narrative from intervention to governance.

How can Bali be described as ‘ever endowed with dharma’ despite being an Asura king?

Purāṇic literature often distinguishes lineage from conduct. Bali is repeatedly used as an exemplar of vow-keeping, generosity, and orderly rule; calling him dharmānvitaḥ underscores that dharma is behavioral and can manifest even in an Asura ruler.

Does ‘trailokya’ here imply literal sovereignty over all realms?

Yes in the mythic-cosmological sense: Bhūḥ (earth), Bhuvaḥ (mid-region), and Svaḥ (heaven). The verse presents Bali’s reign as comprehensive cosmic kingship, not merely terrestrial dominion.