Vamana Purana — Sin-Destroying Hymn (Part 1), Shloka 2

The Second Sin-Destroying Hymn (Pāpaśamana Stava) and the Syncretic Praise of Hari-Hara

Devanagari script

एकशृङ्ग नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्तुभ्यं वृषाकपे श्रीनिवास नमस्ते ऽस्तु नमस्ते भूतभावन

Transliteration

ekaśṛṅga namastubhyaṃ namastubhyaṃ vṛṣākape śrīnivāsa namaste 'stu namaste bhūtabhāvana

Translation

[{"question": "Is “Viṣvaksena” here the attendant deity or Viṣṇu Himself?", "answer": "In many Vaiṣṇava sources, Viṣvaksena is a distinct attendant/commander of the Lord. In stuti-poetry, however, such names can be applied to Viṣṇu directly as epithets (“universal commander”). Given the parallel structure with “Nārāyaṇa” and other divine epithets, the verse functions as praise of Viṣṇu Himself."}, {"question": "What do “Dhruvadhvaja” and “Satyadhvaja” convey theologically?", "answer": "They present the Lord as the unwavering standard-bearer of cosmic order: dhruva (steadfastness/immutability) and satya (truth). The ‘banner’ metaphor signals that these qualities are not incidental but defining emblems of divinity and reliable refuge for devotees."}, {"question": "Does the ‘banner’ imagery connect to any specific iconography?", "answer": "Purāṇic and epic literature frequently uses dhvaja-epithets for gods and kings. While later iconography emphasizes Viṣṇu’s emblems (cakra, śaṅkha, etc.), dhvaja language here is primarily poetic-theological, stressing the Lord’s identity as the standard of truth and stability."}]

Speakers

• Unspecified in the provided excerpt; the verse is a direct address (stuti) to Viṣṇu by a devotee/narrative speaker within Adhyaya 60.

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi (implied by Śrīnivāsa)

Key Themes

• Stuti (praise of Vishnu)
• Divine epithets and theology
• Auspiciousness (Śrī)
• Creator-sustainer function

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the hymn use multiple epithets rather than a single name like “Viṣṇu” or “Nārāyaṇa”?

Purāṇic stutis often stack epithets to invoke multiple theological facets at once—cosmic sovereignty (ekaśṛṅga), heroic potency (vṛṣākapi), auspicious presence with Lakṣmī (śrīnivāsa), and universal causality (bhūtabhāvana). This is a standard devotional-poetic technique that also functions as a compact theology.

What is the likely sense of “ekaśṛṅga” in a Viṣṇu-stuti?

In Purāṇic usage, “ekaśṛṅga” can signal singular supremacy (“the One with the single horn/peak”), and may echo older Vedic idioms where unusual physical markers symbolize unique power. In a stuti context it is best read as an honorific emphasizing unmatched lordship rather than a literal zoological description.

Does this verse contain any geographical/tīrtha information typical of the Vāmana Purāṇa?

No. This śloka is purely doxological (praise) and contains no toponyms or hydrography. Any geographical framing would come from surrounding verses/chapters, not from this line itself.