Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 53
Sukeshi’s Inquiry into Dharma: The Seven Dvipas and the Twenty-One Hells
समाजघानाथ हुताशनं हि वरयुधेनाथ वराङ्गमध्ये समाहतो ऽग्निः परिमुच्य शम्बरं तथान्धकं स त्वरितो ऽभ्यधावत् // वम्प्_10.52 तमापतन्तं परिघेण भूयः समाहनन्मूर्ध्नि तदान्धको ऽपि स ताडितो ऽग्निर्दितिजेश्वरेण भयात् प्रदुद्राव रणाजिराद्वि
samājaghānātha hutāśanaṃ hi varayudhenātha varāṅgamadhye samāhato 'gniḥ parimucya śambaraṃ tathāndhakaṃ sa tvarito 'bhyadhāvat // VamP_10.52 tamāpatantaṃ parigheṇa bhūyaḥ samāhananmūrdhni tadāndhako 'pi sa tāḍito 'gnirditijeśvareṇa bhayāt pradudrāva raṇājirādvi
Then Andhaka struck Hutāśana, the Fire-god, with an excellent weapon in the midst of battle. Struck, Agni released Śambara and swiftly rushed toward Andhaka. As he charged in, Andhaka again smote him on the head with a parigha (iron club). Struck by the lord of the Dānavas, Agni fled in fear from the battlefield.
{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
Even cosmic powers can be portrayed as strategically withdrawing when overmatched; Purāṇic ethics emphasizes that victory is not merely strength but alignment with dharma and the larger divine order that ultimately reasserts itself.
Vamśānucarita: episodic history of gods and anti-gods (Deva–Asura warfare), illustrating the recurring contest between order and disorder.
Fire (Agni) represents purification and sacrificial order; its temporary defeat by Andhaka symbolizes the suppression of sattvic order by violent tamas, setting the stage for restoration through higher divine intervention.