Vamana Purana — Indra's Penance & Aditi's Vow, Shloka 37

Indra’s Penance at the Great River and Aditi’s Solar Vow for Vishnu’s Descent

Devanagari script

निवेद्य चैवाज्ययुतं महार्हमन्नं महेन्द्रस्य हिताय देवी स्तवेन पुण्येन च संस्तुवन्ती स्थिता निराहारमथोपवासम्

Transliteration

nivedya caivājyayutaṃ mahārhamannaṃ mahendrasya hitāya devī stavena puṇyena ca saṃstuvantī sthitā nirāhāramathopavāsam

Translation

And having offered a most excellent food-oblation mixed with ghee, for the welfare of Mahendra, she praised the Goddess with a meritorious hymn; thereafter she remained without food, observing a fast.

Speakers

• Narrator describing the rite; implied devotional address to Devī for Indra’s welfare

Primary Deities

• Devī
• Indra (Mahendra)

Key Themes

• Stuti (praise hymn)
• Upavāsa (fasting)
• Intercession for Indra
• Merit (puṇya) through ritual
• Naivedya with ghee

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is the rite explicitly ‘for Mahendra’s welfare’ if the hymn is to Devī?

Purāṇic ritual logic often frames Devī as the power who secures cosmic stability; Indra’s welfare stands for the devas’ order and the maintenance of dharma. Thus the devotee propitiates Devī as the effective agent while naming Indra as the beneficiary.

What is the function of adding ghee (ājya) to the food offering?

Ājya is a classic purifier and ‘carrier’ substance in Vedic and Purāṇic offerings. Mixed with food, it marks the naivedya as ritually enriched and suitable for a vow-observance aimed at producing puṇya.

How should ‘nirāhāra … upavāsa’ be understood—total fast or regulated abstinence?

The wording indicates a strict abstention from food after the offering. In vrata contexts, this typically means no meal intake for the stated period, while water or minimal permitted items may be specified elsewhere in the chapter.