Dharma Puruṣa

In the Kalki Purāṇa, Dharma is more than an idea of right order. He is a being who takes a body. He comes to Bhagavān Kalki in the form of a brāhmaṇa, in plain distress, with his companions, his wives and his children. Kali’s power has driven him out of the lands of the Śakas, the Kāmbojas and the Śabaras.

Bhagavān Kalki comforts Dharma and asks him to join the Digvijaya (the campaign to conquer the directions). Dharma then fights Kali himself, together with Kṛtayuga. He burns Kali’s capital Viśasana pura and Kali’s family dies in the fire. When Bhagavān Kalki rises to Vaikuṇṭha, Dharma and Kṛtayuga walk the earth freely.

Dharma comes as a brāhmaṇa

Bhagavān Kalki was getting the Digvijaya force ready at the assembly that followed the meeting at Haridvāra. A brāhmaṇa arrived with a large company, all in plain distress. He was Dharma himself, come in a body.

With him came the companions who always go with Dharma:

  • Ṛta, Prasāda, Abhaya, Sukha, Muda, Yoga, Artha, Smṛti, Kṣema and Pratiśraya, the ten companions of Dharma.
  • The virtues as attendant mūrtis (forms): Śraddhā, Maitrī, Dayā, Śānti, Tuṣṭi, Kriyā, Unnati, Buddhi, Medhā and Titikṣā.
  • The great cirajīvins (long-lived ones) Nara and Nārāyaṇa, who are aṃśas (partial forms) of Bhagavān Viṣṇu, also came in Dharma’s party.
  • Dharma’s wives and children were with him. Their faces were pale and troubled, as if their puṇya (merit) had run out.

This is told in the Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāṃśa, Chapter 6.

Dharma’s complaint

Dharma folded his hands, bowed before Bhagavān Kalki and spoke in sorrow:

“O Kalki! Know me as Dharma, the one born from your own chest (brahmarūpa nijavakṣasthala-sambhava), the fulfiller of all beings’ wishes. I am the one whom devas honour first, the one who ensures that those who offer what is proper for devas and pitṛs receive what is worthy. The powerful Kali has rejected me and driven me out from among the Śaka, Kāmboja and Śabara peoples. All the sādhus and Viṣṇu-bhaktas among them are being tormented. I have come to your lotus feet for shelter. Protect me.”

Bhagavān Kalki comforted him:

“O Dharma! Know that the Kṛtayuga has already begun. I have come down as Kalki because Brahmā asked me. The Buddhist peoples of Kīkaṭa have already been defeated. Be at ease. I will march to destroy those who have rejected you, the mleccha and pākhaṇḍa peoples who follow Kali, and I will make you free. Travel with me.”

Dharma gets ready for battle

Dharma was greatly relieved. He placed his family in a siddhāśrama (a hermitage of the perfected) and got ready for the campaign. The text describes his readiness through images:

  • Vedic and Brahmic learning was his chariot.
  • Śāstric inquiry (the study of the principles of the scriptures) was his bow.
  • The seven svaras (musical notes: Ṣaḍja, Ṛṣabha, Gāndhāra, Madhyama, Pañcama, Dhaivata and Niṣāda) were his horses.
  • Brāhmaṇas were his charioteer.
  • Fire was his seat.
  • His forces were the powers of yajña (fire ritual), dāna (giving), tapas (austerity) and yama-niyama (the rules of restraint and observance).

This is told in the Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāṃśa, Chapter 6.

The battle with Kali

The most decisive meeting of the whole Digvijaya was not between Bhagavān Kalki’s army and Kali’s forces. It was the direct fight between Dharma, together with Kṛtayuga, and Kali himself.

Kali set out from his capital Viśasana pura, with the ulūka-dhvaja (owl-banner) on his chariot. Dharma and Kṛtayuga attacked with arrows of sacred speech and Vedic tejas (radiance). Their attack was overwhelming:

  • Kali’s banner and chariot were smashed.
  • His body streamed with blood.
  • A foul smell poured from him.
  • His face became bhayaṅkara (terrifying) in defeat.

Kali was driven from the field. He gave up his chariot and mount and fled into hiding. He went into a house ruled by women.

Kali’s companion Dambha was struck by arrows and fell in confusion. Lobha was killed by Prasāda’s blow with the gadā (mace), and his head was shattered. The dog-drawn chariot of other companions of Kali was broken, and they fled, spitting blood.

This is told in the Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāṃśa, Chapters 6 and 7.

The burning of Viśasana pura

After driving off Kali and his forces, Dharma did the great deed of the Digvijaya. He entered Viśasana pura, Kali’s capital, and burned the city to ash with a fire of arrows. Kali’s whole family, his wives, children and companions, died in the blaze. Kali himself had lost his home, his family, his city and his power. He fled alone into an unseen exile, weeping and without refuge.

This act was Dharma’s answer to being driven out of the lands of the Śakas, Kāmbojas and Śabaras by Kali’s power. It brought back the original order. This is told in the Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāṃśa, Chapter 7.

At Bhallāṭanagara

In the battle of Bhallāṭanagara, Dharma and Kṛtayuga came onto the field after Śaśidhvaja struck Bhagavān Kalki unconscious. Śaśidhvaja took both of them under his arm, along with the unconscious Kalki, and carried them to his palace. In the assembly that followed, Dharma spoke:

“O Kali-destroyer! Hearing your names and forms praised with bhakti here, I am now fully kṛtārtha (fulfilled).”

Bhagavān Kalki smiled and accepted their homage. Then Dharma got ready to go on with his mission. This is told in the Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāṃśa, Chapters 9 and 10.

After Kalki’s departure

When Bhagavān Kalki rose to Vaikuṇṭha, Dharma and Kṛtayuga were free of all opposition. The Kalki Purāṇa says they walked the earth for a long age without hindrance. It calls them śatrurahitam (without enemies). They kept the order of dharma in the world that Bhagavān Kalki had restored. This is told in the Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāṃśa, Chapter 19.

Sources

  • Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāṃśa, Chapters 6, 7, 9, 10, 19