Vamana Purana — Vishnu Slays Kalanemi, Shloka 38
Vishnu Enters the Deva–Asura War and Slays Kalanemi
संरम्भाद् दानवेन्द्रो विमृदति दितिजैः संयुतो देवसैन्यं सेन्द्रं सार्क सचन्द्रं करचरणनखैरस्क्षत्रहीनो ऽपि वेगात् चक्रैर्वैश्वानराभैस्त्ववनिगगनयोस्तिर्यगूर्ध्वं समन्तात् प्राप्ते ऽन्ते कालवह्नेर्जगदखिलमिदं रूपमासीद् दिधक्षोः
saṃrambhād dānavendro vimṛdati ditijaiḥ saṃyuto devasainyaṃ sendraṃ sārka sacandraṃ karacaraṇanakhairaskṣatrahīno 'pi vegāt cakrairvaiśvānarābhaistvavanigaganayostiryagūrdhvaṃ samantāt prāpte 'nte kālavahnerjagadakhilamidaṃ rūpamāsīd didhakṣoḥ
In a surge of rage, the lord of Dānavas—joined by the sons of Diti—crushed the army of the gods, together with Indra, with Sūrya, and with Candra. Though deprived of his royal dominion, he struck swiftly with hands, feet, and nails; and with discus-weapons blazing like Vaiśvānara (fire), he raged across earth and sky, sideways and upward in every direction. As the end approached with the Fire of Time, this entire universe took on the appearance of one intent on burning everything.
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FAQs
Kāla-vahni is an eschatological image: Time (kāla) as the ultimate devourer manifests as a cosmic fire at dissolution (pralaya). The verse uses this motif to describe the battlefield’s terror as resembling end-time conditions.
It indicates that even if Bali has been stripped of sovereignty/royal standing (kṣatra) by divine decree or impending defeat, his martial force remains formidable. The phrase heightens dramatic irony: loss of legitimacy does not immediately reduce destructive capacity.
It is a totalizing formula: Bali’s assault symbolically overwhelms not only the Deva army but also the cosmic regulators—Indra (sovereignty/rain), Sūrya (day/order), and Candra (time/ritual calendar). This amplifies the sense that cosmic order itself is being shaken.