Vamana Purana — Kali's Complaint to Brahma (Part 1), Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

कुलजो व्यसने मग्नः सखा चार्थबहिः कृतः वृद्धो ज्ञातिर्गुणी विप्रः कीर्तीश्च यशसा सह

Transliteration

kulajo vyasane magnaḥ sakhā cārthabahiḥ kṛtaḥ vṛddho jñātirguṇī vipraḥ kīrtīśca yaśasā saha

Translation

A kinsman of noble birth has sunk into misfortune; a friend has been cast out from prosperity; an aged relative, and a virtuous brāhmaṇa—along with one’s good repute and fame—(all these are at stake/are to be upheld).

Speakers

• Unspecified in input (didactic voice addressing a ruler/‘putra’ appears in the surrounding verses)

Key Themes

• Rajadharma (kingly duty)
• Protection of dependents and allies
• Maintenance of social order (brāhmaṇa support)
• Fame/renown as a moral consequence

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why are ‘kinsman in distress’ and ‘friend cast out from wealth’ mentioned together?

The verse groups vulnerable dependents and social bonds that a ruler must actively protect: lineage-relations (jñāti) and political/social allies (sakhā). Their decline signals a breakdown of the king’s sustaining role (bharaṇa) and harms public reputation (kīrti/yaśas).

What is the function of ‘vipra’ in this list?

In Purāṇic rajadharma, the brāhmaṇa represents dharma-preservation through counsel, ritual, and learning. Supporting a ‘guṇī vipra’ is both a moral duty and a stabilizing institution for the realm; neglect diminishes the king’s merit and standing.

How do kīrti and yaśas differ here?

Kīrti is immediate renown—what people say and remember in the present—while yaśas is enduring fame/glory that outlasts events. The verse implies that social neglect erodes both present reputation and lasting honor.