Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Defeat & Redemption, Shloka 80

Andhaka’s Defeat, the Bhairava Manifestation, and His Redemption as Bhṛṅgī Gaṇapati

Devanagari script

महेन्द्रो मलयं गत्वा कृत्वा कार्यं दिवं गतः गतेषु शक्रपाग्र्येषु देवेषु भगवाञ्चिशवः

Transliteration

mahendro malayaṃ gatvā kṛtvā kāryaṃ divaṃ gataḥ gateṣu śakrapāgryeṣu deveṣu bhagavāñciśavaḥ

Translation

Mahendra (Indra), having gone to Malaya and accomplished his task, returned to heaven. When the gods—foremost among them Śakra (Indra)—had departed, the Blessed Lord (Śiva) … (the verse transitions to Śiva’s subsequent action, continued in the next śloka).

Speakers

• Sūta (narrator) to Śaunaka and the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya (standard Purāṇic frame; immediate narrative voice describing events)

Primary Deities

• Indra (Mahendra/Śakra)
• Śiva (Bhagavān)

Key Themes

• Completion of divine mission
• Return of devas to Svarga
• Śiva’s sovereignty after the conflict
• Purāṇic sacred geography (mountain as locus of action)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Malaya mentioned here—what is its significance in Purāṇic geography?

Malaya is a celebrated southern mountain system in Purāṇic mapping, often associated with sacred groves, siddhas, and divine encounters. Its mention anchors the narrative in a recognizable tīrtha-mountain landscape rather than an abstract battlefield.

Does this verse imply Indra’s leadership among the gods?

Yes. The compound “śakra-pāgryeṣu deveṣu” explicitly marks Śakra/Indra as the foremost among the devas in this departure scene, consistent with his role as devarāja.

Who is ‘bhagavān’ in this context?

Within the Andhaka-related sequence and the immediate next verse mentioning Śaṅkara and his gaṇas, ‘bhagavān’ is best read as Śiva, indicating the narrative is shifting from the devas’ departure to Śiva’s dismissal of his attendants.