Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Counsel to Andhaka, Shloka 59

Shukra’s Curse on King Danda and Prahlada’s Counsel to Andhaka on Dharma

Devanagari script

सहान्धका निर्ययुस्ते गजैरुष्ट्रैर्हयै रथैः अन्धको रथमास्थाय पञ्चनल्वप्रणमाणतः

Transliteration

sahāndhakā niryayuste gajairuṣṭrairhayai rathaiḥ andhako rathamāsthāya pañcanalvapraṇamāṇataḥ

Translation

Together with Andhaka they set out—on elephants, camels, horses, and chariots. Andhaka, mounting his chariot, advanced according to the measure called “pañcanalva” (a specific unit or extent).

Speakers

• Narrator describing the Asura host departing with Andhaka.

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Military mobilization and march
• Asura warfare imagery (mounts and chariots)
• Andhaka as central war-leader

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does the list ‘elephants, camels, horses, chariots’ signify in Purāṇic battle narration?

It is a conventional catalogue of the fourfold military conveyance, emphasizing scale and readiness; camels (uṣṭra) often signal desert/steppe-style mobility in addition to standard epic cavalry and elephants.

Who is Andhaka in this context?

Andhaka is an Asura figure whose conflict culminates in a Śaiva confrontation (Andhaka-vadha). Here he is portrayed as a principal leader mounting his chariot as the host marches out.

What is ‘pañcanalva’ and should it be taken literally?

It appears to be a technical measure/descriptor preserved in the verse. Without a critical edition’s notes or parallel readings, its precise value is uncertain; it can be treated as indicating a specified extent/formation rather than a doctrinal term.