Vamana Purana — Ritadhvaja Aids Galava, Shloka 41
Ritadhvaja’s Aid to Galava and Andhaka’s Infatuation with Gauri
कुर्वान्तः सुमहाशब्दं प्राद्रवन्त रणार्थिनः तेषामापततां शब्दं श्रुत्वा तस्थौ गणेश्वरः
kurvāntaḥ sumahāśabdaṃ prādravanta raṇārthinaḥ teṣāmāpatatāṃ śabdaṃ śrutvā tasthau gaṇeśvaraḥ
Raising a very great uproar, those eager for battle rushed forward. Hearing the sound of their oncoming advance, Gaṇeśvara stood his ground.
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FAQs
In the Andhaka-vadha narrative, this typically denotes the hostile forces (often asuras or their allies) charging into combat; the verse focuses on the momentum and noise of the assault rather than naming them.
The term can denote Gaṇeśa, but in battle descriptions it may also function as a title for the lord/commander of Śiva’s gaṇas. The immediate context (next verses mentioning Ambikā and a weapon like vajra) suggests a Śaiva battlefield episode where a gaṇa-leader stands to meet the charge.
Purāṇic battle-poetics often use auditory imagery to convey scale and imminence—‘the sound of the oncoming’ signals the turning point where the defender (gaṇeśvara) braces for direct engagement.