Vamana Purana — Shiva's Kedara Tirtha, Shloka 40

Shiva’s Kedara-Tirtha and the Rise of Mura: From Shaiva Pilgrimage to Vaishnava Theology

Devanagari script

ततो गजेन्द्रकुलिशौ हृतौ शक्रस्य शत्रुणा सकलत्रो महातेजाः सह देवैः सुतेन च

Transliteration

tato gajendrakuliśau hṛtau śakrasya śatruṇā sakalatro mahātejāḥ saha devaiḥ sutena ca

Translation

ثم إن العدوَّ انتزع من شَكْرَة (إندرا) كِلَا الفيلَ المَلَكيَّ أيرافَتَا وسلاحَ الصاعقة فَجْرَا (فَجْرَ/فَجْرَة). وقد جُرِّدَ إندرا، ذو البهاء العظيم، من جميع شارات المُلك ووسائله، ومع ذلك بقي مع الآلهة ومع ابنه أيضًا.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence/time

• gajendra-kuliśau: the two thunderbolts of Gajendra (i.e., tusks/weapon-like)
• gajendra-kuliśau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gajendra (प्रातिपदिक) + kuliśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘गजेन्द्रस्य कुलिशौ’

• hṛtau: taken away/removed
• hṛtau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Masculine, Accusative Dual; agrees with gajendra-kuliśau

• śakrasya: of Śakra (Indra)
• śakrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śatruṇā: by the enemy
• śatruṇā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• sa-kalatraḥ: together with (his) wife
• sa-kalatraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + kalatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; अव्ययीभावः—‘कलत्रेण सह’ = with wife

• mahā-tejāḥ: of great splendor/mighty
• mahā-tejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; कर्मधारयः—‘महच्च तत् तेजः यस्य’ (as adjective)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), preposition-like particle governing Instrumental (तृतीया)

• devaiḥ: with the gods
• devaiḥ: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sutena: with (his) son
• sutena: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic voice) to the listening sage/audience (implicit)

Primary Deities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Seizure of divine regalia
• Indra’s disempowerment
• Crisis of cosmic order
• Devas in distress

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why are Airāvata and the Vajra singled out?

They are Indra’s defining insignia: Airāvata symbolizes royal sovereignty and cosmic authority, while the Vajra represents irresistible martial power. Their seizure marks a complete collapse of Indra’s kingship.

What does ‘sakalatraḥ’ mean here?

Although the form can be read in different ways across manuscripts, in this narrative context it functions as ‘stripped of all’—i.e., bereft of the instruments and emblems that constitute Indra’s rule and capacity to act.

Who is ‘his son’ in ‘sutena ca’?

The verse does not name him. In Purāṇic usage, Indra’s son is often Jayanta; however, identification depends on the immediate chapter’s preceding/following verses and manuscript tradition.