Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 70

The Slaying of Raktabīja and Niśumbha–Śumbha; the Manifestation of the Mātṛkās and the Devas’ Hymn

Devanagari script

भूयो विपक्षक्षपणाय देवा विन्ध्ये भविष्यम्यृषिरक्षणार्थम् दुर्वृत्तचेष्टान् विनिहत्य दैत्यान् भूयः समेष्यामि सुरालयं हि

Transliteration

bhūyo vipakṣakṣapaṇāya devā vindhye bhaviṣyamyṛṣirakṣaṇārtham durvṛttaceṣṭān vinihatya daityān bhūyaḥ sameṣyāmi surālayaṃ hi

Translation

["Devī (Nārāyaṇī)", "Viṣṇu (implied by cakra)", "Śiva (implied by triśūla)"]

Speakers

• (Implied divine speaker) the Goddess/Devi addressing the Devas (gods)

Primary Deities

• Devi
• Devas

Key Themes

• Protection of sages (ṛṣi-rakṣaṇa)
• Destruction of daityas
• Divine descent/manifestation for cosmic order
• Restoration of Svarga

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Vindhya singled out here?

Vindhya functions as a charged mythic-geographic zone in Purāṇic literature—often a frontier of ascetic settlements and demonic disturbance. The verse frames the Devi’s descent as a localized intervention to secure ṛṣi-communities and re-stabilize dharma.

Does “surālaya” mean a specific heaven?

Surālaya is a general Purāṇic term for the gods’ realm, commonly identified with Svarga/Triviṣṭapa. Here it marks the completion of the mission: after daitya-suppression, the divine power returns to the celestial order.

What is the theological point of “again” (bhūyaḥ) repeated?

The repetition emphasizes cyclical divine intervention: whenever hostile forces threaten sages and cosmic balance, the deity manifests repeatedly, not as a one-time event but as an ongoing guardianship of dharma.