Vamana Purana — Shukra's Samjivani, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

तेषामापततां वेगः प्रमथानां बले बभौ आपगानां महावेगं पतन्तीनां महार्णवे

Transliteration

teṣāmāpatatāṃ vegaḥ pramathānāṃ bale babhau āpagānāṃ mahāvegaṃ patantīnāṃ mahārṇave

Translation

Led by Viśvāvasu, the (celestial beings) sent to Śakra (Indra) a (chariot/vehicle or ornament) made of pure jāmbhūnada-gold, adorned with a net of small bells.

Speakers

• Narrator voice
• using a simile to convey the scale and momentum of the combined forces.

Primary Deities

• Śiva (implied through pramathas)
• Devas (implied)

Key Themes

• Epic simile (upamā)
• Overwhelming momentum
• Collective force in divine battle
• Natural imagery to express cosmic scale

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why compare the onrush to rivers entering the ocean?

The simile conveys inevitability and massed power: many separate currents (individual forces) converge into a single overwhelming surge, mirroring how allied troops amplify Śiva’s battle-strength.

Who are the ‘Pramathas’ in Purāṇic literature?

Pramathas are Śiva’s formidable attendants (a class within the gaṇa retinue), often depicted as fierce, irregular, and battle-ready—ideal for describing the kinetic energy of Śiva’s host.

Does ‘mahārṇava’ indicate a specific ocean in Vāmana Purāṇa geography?

Here it functions as a poetic ‘great ocean’ rather than a mapped toponym. Unlike tīrtha sections that name rivers and sites precisely, this verse uses generalized natural imagery to heighten battle drama.