Vamana Purana — Shukra's Samjivani, Shloka 106

Shukra’s Saṃjīvanī, Shiva’s Containment of the Asuras, and Indra’s Recovery of Power

Devanagari script

शतक्रतुश्च दुद्राव प्रगृह्य कुलिशं बली तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य बलो दानवसत्तमः

Transliteration

śatakratuśca dudrāva pragṛhya kuliśaṃ balī tamāpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya balo dānavasattamaḥ

Translation

And Śatakratu (Indra) rushed forward, powerfully grasping the thunderbolt. Seeing him charging, Bala—the foremost among the Dānavas—(reacted/engaged).

Speakers

• Narrator describing the immediate clash between Indra and the Dānava champion Bala.

Primary Deities

• Indra

Key Themes

• Indra’s martial role
• Vajra as symbol of divine sovereignty
• Champion-versus-champion combat
• Asuric resistance to devas

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is ‘Bala’ in this context?

Bala is presented as a leading Dānava warrior (dānava-sattama). Across Purāṇic literature, ‘Bala’ can denote a named asura/dānava figure; here it functions as the principal opponent who confronts Indra’s charge.

What does Indra ‘grasping the kuliśa’ signify beyond weaponry?

The vajra/kuliśa is a condensed emblem of Indra’s kingship and the devas’ capacity to enforce ṛta/dharma. The gesture signals decisive engagement—Indra entering the fray in his sovereign, punitive capacity.

Is any sacred place implied by this verse?

No. The verse is purely kinetic battlefield narration without toponyms; geographic sacralization (tirtha identification) would depend on adjacent passages naming the battlefield or associated waters.