Vamana Purana — Manifestation of Katyayani, Shloka 2
The Manifestation of Katyayani (Durga) and the Humbling of the Vindhya by Agastya
इति श्रीवामनपुराणे अष्टादशो ऽध्यायः पुलस्त्य उवाच ततस्तु देवा महिषेम निर्जिताः स्थानानि संत्यज्य सवाहनायुधाः जग्मुः पुरस्कृत्य रिचामहं ते द्रष्टुं तदा चक्रधरं श्रियः पतिम् // वम्प्_19.1 गत्वा त्वपश्यंश्च मिथः सुरोत्तमौ स्थितौ खगेन्द्रासनशङ्करौ हि दृष्टावा प्रणम्यैव च सिद्दिसाधकौ न्यवेदयंस्तन्महिषादिचेष्टितम्
iti śrīvāmanapurāṇe aṣṭādaśo 'dhyāyaḥ pulastya uvāca tatastu devā mahiṣema nirjitāḥ sthānāni saṃtyajya savāhanāyudhāḥ jagmuḥ puraskṛtya ricāmahaṃ te draṣṭuṃ tadā cakradharaṃ śriyaḥ patim // VamP_19.1 gatvā tvapaśyaṃśca mithaḥ surottamau sthitau khagendrāsanaśaṅkarau hi dṛṣṭāvā praṇamyaiva ca siddisādhakau nyavedayaṃstanmahiṣādiceṣṭitam
Pulastya said: Then the Devas, defeated by Mahīṣa (and his forces), abandoned their stations—together with their mounts and weapons—and went forth, placing Ṛcāmaha (Brahmā) at their head, to behold the discus-bearing Lord of Śrī (Viṣṇu). Having gone, they saw the two best of the gods standing together—Śaṅkara and he who is seated upon the lord of birds (Viṣṇu upon Garuḍa). Seeing them, the accomplished ones bowed and reported the deeds of Mahīṣa and the others.
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FAQs
The Devas model śaraṇāgati: when power fails, they turn to higher wisdom and divine support, led by Brahmā. The scene implies that restoration of order requires humility, counsel, and alignment with dharma rather than mere force.
Vamśānucarita/Carita (narrative of divine actors) that functions as a bridge into avatāra-kathā: the gods’ defeat and petition is a standard trigger for the Lord’s intervention within Purāṇic historiography.
Viṣṇu and Śiva standing together (surottamau) embodies the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: cosmic governance is cooperative, not rivalrous. Garuḍa-seat and cakra mark Viṣṇu’s protective sovereignty, while Śaṅkara’s presence signals complementary ascetic-power and dissolution of obstacles.