Vamana Purana — Vishnu Slays Kalanemi, Shloka 3

Vishnu Enters the Deva–Asura War and Slays Kalanemi

Devanagari script

तानागतान्निरीक्ष्यैव पूजयित्वा यताक्रमम पप्रच्छ कुलजान् सर्वान् किंनु श्रेयस्करं मम

Transliteration

tānāgatānnirīkṣyaiva pūjayitvā yatākramama papraccha kulajān sarvān kiṃnu śreyaskaraṃ mama

Translation

ครั้นเห็นพวกเขามาถึง เขาก็บูชาต้อนรับตามลำดับอันควร แล้วถามญาติวงศ์ทั้งปวงว่า “แท้จริงแล้ว อะไรเล่าจึงเป็นศฺเรยัส (ประโยชน์สูงสุด) สำหรับเรา?”

Speakers

• Narrator describing the protagonist (Bali or a lineage-hero) addressing his kulaja elders/kinsmen

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Indra (Śakra)

Key Themes

• Seeking śreyas (highest good)
• Elders’ counsel (kulopadeśa)
• Hospitality and proper protocol (pūjā, yathākramam)
• Dharma-guided decision-making

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is the act of honoring the arrivals (pūjayitvā) emphasized before asking for advice?

In Purāṇic dharma, proper reception and honoring of elders/guests establishes ritual and social legitimacy. Counsel sought after pūjā is framed as dharmically grounded, not merely strategic.

What does śreyas mean here—worldly success or spiritual good?

Śreyas typically denotes the higher, auspicious good (often contrasted with preyas, immediate pleasure). In the Bali-cycle it can include both righteous kingship and the long-term welfare secured by dharma.

Does this verse contain any tirtha or geographic marker typical of the Vāmana Purāṇa?

No. This śloka is narrative-ethical setup; the geography component appears when specific rivers, forests, or tīrthas are named in adjacent passages.