Vamana Purana — Indra's Penance & Aditi's Vow, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

ततो गदाधरः प्रीतो वासवं प्राह नारद गच्छ प्रीतो ऽस्मि भवतो मुक्तपापो ऽसि साम्प्रतम्

Transliteration

tato gadādharaḥ prīto vāsavaṃ prāha nārada gaccha prīto 'smi bhavato muktapāpo 'si sāmpratam

Translation

[{"question": "Why is Indra called both ‘Deveśa’ and ‘Śakra’ here?", "answer": "Both are standard epithets of Indra: ‘Deveśa’ emphasizes his office as king of the devas, while ‘Śakra’ highlights his power/ability. The verse reassures him that this office will be restored as part of re-establishing dharma."}, {"question": "What does ‘bhāvi śreyaḥ’ imply beyond simply regaining the throne?", "answer": "It signals not only immediate political restoration but enduring welfare—stability of the cosmic hierarchy and Indra’s future security—suggesting a divinely planned resolution rather than a temporary victory."}, {"question": "How does this fit the Vāmana–Bali narrative arc?", "answer": "In the Vāmana cycle, Indra’s loss of sovereignty due to Bali’s ascendancy is corrected through Vishnu’s intervention. This verse functions as a promise of that correction and frames it as dharmic restoration rather than personal favoritism."}]

Speakers

• Gadādhara (Vishnu) addressing Indra (Vāsava); the vocative ‘Nārada’ signals the broader narration/dialogue frame involving Nārada

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Gadādhara)
• Indra (Vāsava)
• Nārada (as interlocutor/frame)

Key Themes

• Divine grace (anugraha)
• Penance leading to purification
• Removal of pāpa (sin)
• Restoration of divine order

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Vishnu declare Indra ‘freed from sin’ (mukta-pāpa)?

The statement marks the fruition of tapas: sustained restraint and devotion culminate in purification, making Indra eligible for restoration/assistance in the larger divine narrative.

How should we understand the sudden address ‘Nārada’ within Vishnu’s speech?

It reflects Purāṇic framing: the story is embedded in a dialogue where Nārada is present as listener/questioner, so the narrator preserves that vocative even while reporting Vishnu’s words to Indra.

Does ‘gaccha’ imply dismissal or commissioning?

Typically commissioning: the deity’s satisfaction authorizes the devotee to proceed—often to resume rightful duties—now that the impediment of pāpa is removed.