Vamana Purana — Ritadhvaja Aids Galava, Shloka 45

Ritadhvaja’s Aid to Galava and Andhaka’s Infatuation with Gauri

Devanagari script

वनस्पतिषु वृक्षेषु गच्छध्वं प्रणिपत्याम्बिकां क्रमात्

Transliteration

vanaspatiṣu vṛkṣeṣu gacchadhvaṃ praṇipatyāmbikāṃ kramāt

Translation

“Go among the lordly trees and the trees; bowing down, approach Ambikā step by step (in due order).”

Word by Word

• vanaspatiṣu: among trees/plant-lords
• vanaspatiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vanasya patiḥ → ‘lord of the forest’ = tree), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vṛkṣeṣu: in/among trees
• vṛkṣeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• gacchadhvam: go (you all)
• gacchadhvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• praṇipatya: having prostrated
• praṇipatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्गौ प्र-नि; ‘having bowed down’

• ambikām: Ambikā
• ambikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kramāt: in due order/gradually
• kramāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘in order/gradually’ (usage as adverbial)

Speakers

• Narrative voice addressing a group of female divinities/attendants (continuation of the injunction)

Primary Deities

• Ambikā

Key Themes

• Proper approach to the Goddess
• Ritual humility (praṇipāta)
• Sacrality of trees/forest space
• Ordered movement in worship (kramāt)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does ‘kramāt’ imply in a ritual or narrative sense?

‘Kramāt’ signals regulated, respectful progression—approaching the deity in proper sequence (physical steps, ritual stages, or hierarchical order), contrasting with impulsive or transgressive entry into sacred space.

Why mention both ‘vanaspati’ and ‘vṛkṣa’?

The pairing distinguishes eminent ‘forest-lords’ (vanaspati) from ordinary trees (vṛkṣa), emphasizing the entire arboreal environment as a sacred medium for encountering Ambikā.

Is this a reference to a specific sacred grove?

Not explicitly. It functions as a generalized sacral-geographic motif: the Goddess is approached in/through wooded terrain, supporting later localization of Ambikā shrines in groves.