Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Coronation, Shloka 21

Andhaka’s Coronation, Boons from Shiva, and the Daiva–Asura War (Vahana Catalogues)

Devanagari script

कुञ्जरस्थाश्च वसवो यक्षाश्च नरवाहनाः किन्नरा भुजगारूढा हयारूढौ तथाश्विनौ

Transliteration

kuñjarasthāśca vasavo yakṣāśca naravāhanāḥ kinnarā bhujagārūḍhā hayārūḍhau tathāśvinau

Translation

The Vasus are stationed upon elephants; the Yakṣas have men as their conveyance. The Kinnaras ride upon serpents; likewise the two Aśvins are mounted on horses.

Word by Word

• kuñjara-sthāḥ: mounted on elephants
• kuñjara-sthāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuñjara + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘कुञ्जरे स्थिताḥ’ (standing/placed on elephants)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• vasavaḥ: the Vasus
• vasavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• yakṣāḥ: Yakṣas
• yakṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• nara-vāhanāḥ: having men as mounts
• nara-vāhanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nara + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘नरः वाहनम् येषाम्’ (having men as mounts/vehicles)

• kinnarāḥ: Kinnaras
• kinnarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kinnara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• bhujaga-ārūḍhāḥ: mounted on serpents
• bhujaga-ārūḍhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhujaga + ārūḍha (कृदन्त; √ruh धातु with ā- prefix)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘आरूढ’ = mounted; तत्पुरुष — ‘भुजगे आरूढाः’ (mounted on serpents)

• haya-ārūḍhau: (the two) mounted on horses
• haya-ārūḍhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haya + ārūḍha (कृदन्त; √ruh धातु with ā-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual); भूतकृदन्त; तत्पुरुष — ‘हये आरूढौ’ (mounted on horses)

• tathā: likewise, also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘in the same way/also’

• aśvinau: the two Aśvins
• aśvinau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Speakers

• Narrative frame not explicit in the given verses; commonly in Vāmana Purāṇa: Pulastya → Nārada (uncertain here).

Primary Deities

• Vasus
• Yakṣas
• Kinnaras
• Aśvins

Key Themes

• Deva cosmology
• Mythic iconography
• Taxonomy of beings (gods and semi-divines)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The Purāṇic worldview integrates many orders of beings—devas, nature-spirits, and celestial species—into a single hierarchy, implying that power and function are distributed across creation rather than centralized in one realm.

How does this fit the Pañcalakṣaṇa?

This is cosmographical description aligned with Sarga (ordered manifestation and classification). It is not a ritual (kalpa) nor a dynastic history (vaṁśa), but a descriptive inventory typical of Purāṇic cosmology.

What is the symbolic significance?

Elephants signify stability and royal strength (Vasus as foundational powers). Serpents often mark subterranean/liminal energy and mystery (Kinnaras in an otherworldly register). The Aśvins on horses reflect speed, healing aid, and swift response.