Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 2), Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

अतो मम परा प्रीतिर्जाता दानव शाश्वती दृष्ट्वा ते परमं सत्त्वं सर्वेभ्यो ऽपि बलाधिकम्

Transliteration

ato mama parā prītirjātā dānava śāśvatī dṛṣṭvā te paramaṃ sattvaṃ sarvebhyo 'pi balādhikam

Translation

म्हणून, हे दानव, सर्वांपेक्षा बलाधिक असे तुमचे परम ‘सत्त्व’ पाहून माझ्या ठायी श्रेष्ठ व शाश्वत आनंद उत्पन्न झाला आहे।

Speakers

• Unspecified in input; a speaker addresses a Dānava/Daitya hero in sustained praise.

Key Themes

• Virtues attributed to Asuras (sattva, valor)
• Enduring allegiance/approval
• Power as a basis of political order

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Does sattva here mean the Sāṃkhya guṇa (purity) or something else?

In this praise-context, sattva primarily denotes ‘mettle’—steadfast courage, moral-psychological firmness, and heroic excellence. It can overlap with the guṇa sense, but the immediate emphasis is on battle-worthy inner strength.

Why praise an Asura as possessing ‘paramaṃ sattvaṃ’?

Purāṇic narratives often acknowledge formidable virtues in opponents to make the cosmic contest meaningful; the eventual restoration of dharma is then portrayed as overcoming not weakness but powerful, disciplined rivals.

What is the rhetorical effect of śāśvatī (“enduring”) joy?

It signals a durable political commitment: the speaker’s approval is not momentary excitement but a lasting endorsement grounded in the addressee’s demonstrated superiority.