Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 57

Sukeshi’s Inquiry into Dharma: The Seven Dvipas and the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

तत्र स्थितस्यापि महासुरस्य गन्धर्वविद्याधरसिद्धसंघाः सहाप्सरोभिः परिचारणाय पातालमभ्येत्य समावसन्त

Transliteration

tatra sthitasyāpi mahāsurasya gandharvavidyādharasiddhasaṃghāḥ sahāpsarobhiḥ paricāraṇāya pātālamabhyetya samāvasanta

Translation

Even while that great Asura was stationed there, hosts of Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, and Siddhas—together with Apsarases—came to Pātāla and dwelt there to attend upon him.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), locative adverb (देशवाचक)

• sthitasya: of the one who was staying
• sthitasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sthā धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); 'of (him) who was staying'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) = 'even/also'

• mahā-asurasya: of the great asura
• mahā-asurasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); Karmadhāraya: 'great asura'

• gandharva-vidyādhara-siddha-saṃghāḥ: assemblies of Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, and Siddhas
• gandharva-vidyādhara-siddha-saṃghāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva + vidyādhara + siddha + saṃgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); Dvandva: groups of Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, and Siddhas

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), preposition-like indeclinable meaning 'together with' (सह)

• apsarobhiḥ: with Apsarases
• apsarobhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); used with 'saha'

• paricāraṇāya: for attending/service
• paricāraṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) / purpose
• Type: Noun
• Root: pari + cāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); purpose dative: 'for service/attendance'

• pātālam: to Pātāla
• pātālam: Karma (कर्म) (goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhyetya: having come
• abhyetya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + i (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): 'having come/approached'

• samāvasanta: they dwelt/stayed
• samāvasanta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + vas (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speakers

• Dialogue framework not explicit in the provided excerpt; speaker not determinable from these verses alone

Key Themes

• Asura court culture
• Cosmic hierarchy and retinues
• Inversion of celestial attendance (semi-divine beings serving an Asura)
• Daitya-Deva Conflict

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Status and splendor can surround unrighteous power; the verse warns that social/cosmic acclaim (attendance by exalted beings) is not itself a proof of dharma or legitimacy.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita/Carita narrative description—courtly and cosmological coloring around a key actor (Andhaka). It is not genealogical (vaṃśa) proper, but character-episode narration.

What is the symbolic significance?

Gandharvas/Apsarases typically ornament deva courts; their presence in Pātāla signifies a temporary displacement of cosmic order—beauty, art, and siddhi becoming instruments of power rather than devotion—highlighting Purāṇic concern with right alignment of gifts (śakti) to dharma.