Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 2), Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

समाश्रयामि शौर्यढ्यं न च क्लीबं कथञ्चन न चास्ति भवतस्तुल्यो त्रैलोक्ये ऽपि बलाधिकः

Transliteration

samāśrayāmi śauryaḍhyaṃ na ca klībaṃ kathañcana na cāsti bhavatastulyo trailokye 'pi balādhikaḥ

Translation

मी तुमच्या शौर्यसमृद्ध पराक्रमाचा आश्रय घेतो; तुमच्यात कधीही भित्रेपणा नाही. त्रैलोक्यातही तुमच्या बरोबरीचा कोणी नाही, आणि बलात तुमच्याहून श्रेष्ठ तर कोणीच नाही।

Speakers

• Unspecified in input; a speaker addresses a Dānava/Daitya hero (likely Bali or a leading Asura) in praise.

Primary Deities

• Indra (implied by the following verse’s reference to Devarāja)

Key Themes

• Asura valor and kingship
• Hyperbolic praise (atiśayokti)
• Power hierarchy across the three worlds

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the speaker say “I take refuge in your valor” (samāśrayāmi śauryaḍhyam)?

In Purāṇic courtly diction, “taking refuge” can function as a rhetorical pledge of allegiance: the speaker declares reliance on the hero’s martial capacity and protection, not necessarily a theological śaraṇāgati.

What is the significance of “three worlds” (trailokya) in such praise?

Trailokya is a conventional cosmic totality. Claiming no one in the three worlds exceeds the addressee’s strength is a standard Purāṇic superlative used to mark a turning point in the Deva–Asura power balance.

Does this verse indicate a devotional stance toward an Asura?

It indicates political/martial admiration rather than bhakti. Purāṇas often portray Asuras as possessing real virtues (valor, generosity, discipline) even when opposed to Devas, to complicate moral and cosmic narratives.