Vamana Purana — Ritadhvaja Aids Galava, Shloka 17

Ritadhvaja’s Aid to Galava and Andhaka’s Infatuation with Gauri

Devanagari script

ततः स्वल्पपरीवारः प्रगृह्य परिघं करे निर्जगामाथ पातालाद् विचचार च मेदिनीम

Transliteration

tataḥ svalpaparīvāraḥ pragṛhya parighaṃ kare nirjagāmātha pātālād vicacāra ca medinīma

Translation

Dann zog er, nur von einem kleinen Gefolge begleitet, eine eiserne Keule in der Hand, aus Pātāla hervor und begann, über die Erde umherzustreifen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तरबोधक अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

• स्वल्पपरीवारः: having a small retinue
• स्वल्पपरीवारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प + परीवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (स्वल्पः परीवारः यस्य)

• प्रगृह्य: having seized
• प्रगृह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त्वा (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• परिघम्: iron club/bar
• परिघम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करे: in (his) hand
• करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निर्जगाम: went out/emerged
• निर्जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक/आरम्भक अव्यय (then/now)

• पातालात्: from Pātāla (netherworld)
• पातालात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• विचचार: wandered/roamed
• विचचार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मेदिनीम्: the earth
• मेदिनीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Pulastya narrating to the frame-dialogue listener (commonly Nārada).

Primary Deities

• Shiva
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Cosmic geography (netherworld to earth)
• Asura aggression
• Militarized roaming (digvijaya motif)
• Escalation of conflict

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the significance of Andhaka emerging from Pātāla?

Pātāla signifies the chthonic Asura sphere; emergence from it marks a transition from subterranean power to overt disruption of the human/divine world. It is a narrative signal that the conflict is expanding to the surface realm (medinī).

Why mention a ‘small retinue’ (svalpa-parīvāra) if he is powerful?

It highlights personal agency and confidence: Andhaka acts directly rather than relying on vast forces. It also foreshadows targeted encounters (rather than a full-scale war scene) as he roams seeking confrontation or conquest.

What does ‘parigha’ imply about the tone of the episode?

A parigha (iron bar/club) is a stereotypical Asura weapon, emphasizing brute force and violent intent. The verse frames his roaming as armed and predatory, not as pilgrimage or kingship.