Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 1), Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

यज्ञाध्ययनसंपन्ना दातारः कृषिकारिणः पाशुपाल्यं प्रकुर्वन्तु वेश्या विपणिजीविनः

Transliteration

yajñādhyayanasaṃpannā dātāraḥ kṛṣikāriṇaḥ pāśupālyaṃ prakurvantu veśyā vipaṇijīvinaḥ

Translation

ଯଜ୍ଞ ଓ ଅଧ୍ୟୟନରେ ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ, ଦାନଶୀଳ, କୃଷିକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରୁଥିବା ବୈଶ୍ୟମାନେ ହେଉନ୍ତୁ; ସେମାନେ ପଶୁପାଳନ କରୁନ୍ତୁ ଏବଂ ବ୍ୟାପାର-ବାଣିଜ୍ୟରେ ଜୀବିକା ଚାଲାଉନ୍ତୁ।

Speakers

• Normative instruction within Bali’s governance discourse (address implied toward Bali’s realm; exact speaker not specified in the excerpt).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Varna-dharma
• Economic dharma (agriculture, cattle, trade)
• Dana (charity)
• Integration of ritual life with livelihood

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why are Vaiśyas also described as ‘accomplished in yajña and study’?

Purāṇic varṇa-dharma often assigns ritual participation (within prescribed limits) across the upper three varṇas. The verse presents an integrated ideal: economic productivity is not separate from dharma but supported by study, ritual obligation, and generosity.

What is the significance of pairing agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade?

It outlines the classical Vaiśya economic triad: kṛṣi (cultivation), go-rakṣa/pāśupālya (animal wealth and dairy economy), and vāṇijya/vipaṇi-jīvana (market exchange). Together they sustain the kingdom’s material base and enable dāna and yajña.

Does the verse imply a moral evaluation of commerce?

Yes, implicitly: trade is legitimate when embedded in dharma—supported by generosity and ritual responsibility—rather than framed as mere profit-seeking. This is a common Purāṇic strategy to moralize economic life within the king’s ordered realm.