Shloka 158
The Tārakāmaya War: Divine Mustering, Māyā Countermeasures, Aurva Fire, and Viṣṇu’s Slaying of Kālanemi
मायावधे प्रवृत्ते तु स्तूयमाने गदाधरे । निष्प्रयत्नेषु दैत्येषु त्रैलोक्ये मुक्तबंधने
māyāvadhe pravṛtte tu stūyamāne gadādhare | niṣprayatneṣu daityeṣu trailokye muktabaṃdhane
Als die Tötung Māyās im Gange war und Gadādhara gepriesen wurde, während die Daityas kraftlos und ohne Regung dastanden, löste sich die Fesselung der drei Welten.
Narratorial voice (contextual narrator within the Adhyaya; exact dialogue speaker not explicit from the single verse)
Concept: When the Lord (Gadādhara) is praised and adharma’s māyā is slain, bondage loosens not only for individuals but for the very worlds—bhakti and divine intervention restore freedom and order.
Application: Use stuti/japa when overwhelmed by ‘māyā’ (confusion, addiction, despair); pair devotion with right action so inner ‘demons’ become niṣprayatna (powerless).
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the center stands Gadādhara, serene yet formidable, mace held with effortless authority as the illusion of Māyā shatters like a dark veil. Around him, devas raise their hands in hymns; the three worlds appear as luminous spheres or layered realms, their chains dissolving into light.","primary_figures":["Gadādhara (Vishnu)","Devas (chorus of praise)","Personified Māyā (as a dissolving shadow/illusion)"],"setting":"Celestial battlefield transitioning into a radiant cosmic vista—three realms suggested by layered horizons, floating lotuses, and dissolving fetters.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance breaking through darkness","color_palette":["sapphire blue","gold leaf","lotus pink","pearl white","deep violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vishnu as Gadādhara in majestic frontal pose with gold-leaf halo and ornate crown, mace gleaming; devas in symmetrical rows offering stuti with folded hands; Māyā depicted as a dark, jewel-toned veil tearing apart; heavy gold embellishment on ornaments, rich reds/greens, gem-studded details, lotus pedestal and radiant aureole.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Vishnu in sapphire garments standing on a lotus, mace angled gently; devas in delicate profiles singing; Māyā as translucent violet smoke unraveling; soft gradients, refined facial features, lyrical clouds and distant layered realms suggesting triloka, cool blues with warm gold highlights.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold-outlined Vishnu with characteristic large eyes, yellow-gold skin tones and green-blue garments; mace prominent; devas arranged rhythmically; Māyā as stylized dark serpent-like cloud dissolving; strong red/yellow/green palette with temple-wall compositional balance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vishnu-centered composition with abundant lotus motifs and ornate floral borders; devas as singing attendants; Māyā shown as a dark indigo swirl pierced by golden rays; deep blues and gold, intricate textile patterns, peacocks and lotuses framing the liberation of the three worlds."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","choral chanting","gentle drone (tanpura)","silence after cadence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मायावधे → माया-वधे; निष्प्रयत्नेषु → निः-प्रयत्नेषु; त्रैलोक्ये is dvigu (tri+loka); मुक्तबंधने → मुक्त-बन्धने.
FAQs
Gadādhara is an epithet of Viṣṇu, “the bearer of the mace (gadā),” emphasizing divine protection and sovereign power in restoring cosmic order.
It suggests that the oppressive constraint or disorder affecting the entire cosmos (heaven, earth, and the nether realms) was removed through the Lord’s victory, restoring freedom and dharma.
The verse frames divine intervention as the removal of universal affliction: when the Lord is upheld and praised, forces of adharma become powerless, and collective well-being (cosmic liberation from ‘bondage’) is re-established.