Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Defeat & Redemption, Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

एवं पुरा दानवसत्तमं तं महेश्वरेणाथ विरूपदृष्ट्या कृत्वैव रूपं भयदं च भैरवं भृङ्गित्वमीसेन कृतं स्वभक्त्या // वम्प्_44.95 एतत् तवोक्तं हरकीर्तिवर्धनं पुण्यं पवित्रं शुभदं महर्षे संकीर्तनीयं द्विजसत्तमेषु धर्मायुरारोग्यधनैषिणा सदा

Transliteration

evaṃ purā dānavasattamaṃ taṃ maheśvareṇātha virūpadṛṣṭyā kṛtvaiva rūpaṃ bhayadaṃ ca bhairavaṃ bhṛṅgitvamīsena kṛtaṃ svabhaktyā // VamP_44.95 etat tavoktaṃ harakīrtivardhanaṃ puṇyaṃ pavitraṃ śubhadaṃ maharṣe saṃkīrtanīyaṃ dvijasattameṣu dharmāyurārogyadhanaiṣiṇā sadā

Translation

“Thus, in former times, that foremost of Dānavas—having been made the object of Maheśvara’s disfiguring glance—was indeed transformed into a fearsome, Bhairava-like form; and by his own devotion he was made to attain the state of Bhṛṅgī by the Lord (Īśa). This account spoken by you, O great seer, increases the fame of Hara; it is meritorious, purifying, and bestows auspiciousness. It should always be recited among the best of twice-born, by one who seeks dharma, long life, health, and wealth.”

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the māhātmya context (chapter conclusion); the second half addresses a ‘maharṣi’ (great seer)
• implying a listener praising the seer’s narration (likely within Pulastya–Nārada frame in surrounding chapters).

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Maheśvara/Hara/Īśa)
• Bhairava (Śiva’s fierce aspect)
• Bhṛṅgī (Śiva’s gaṇa/devotee)

Key Themes

• Power of Śiva’s grace and chastisement (glance as transformative)
• Devotion (bhakti) as the cause of elevation
• Śiva-kīrti (praise of Hara)
• Phalaśruti: benefits of recitation (dharma, longevity, health, wealth)
• Didactic closure to a tīrtha/narrative unit

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Who is ‘Bhṛṅgī’, and what does ‘bhṛṅgītvam’ signify here?

Bhṛṅgī is a famed gaṇa (attendant) of Śiva, often portrayed as an emblem of intense, single-pointed devotion to Śiva. ‘Bhṛṅgītvam’ here indicates being admitted into that exalted devotional status—an elevation granted by Īśa due to steadfast bhakti, even after a punitive/transformative episode.

Why is Bhairava mentioned—does it mean the Dānava became Bhairava?

The verse says the Dānava was made into a ‘bhayada’ (fear-causing) form ‘like Bhairava’ (bhairava-rūpa). It signals a terrifying, Śaiva-fierce transformation caused by Śiva’s glance, not that he became the deity Bhairava himself.

What is the function of the second half of the passage?

It is a phalaśruti-style endorsement: the narration is declared purifying and auspicious, and its recitation is recommended for those seeking dharma and worldly well-being (longevity, health, wealth). This is typical of Purāṇic units that close a māhātmya or episode by prescribing recitation as a religious act.