Vamana Purana — Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Shloka 7
Harihara Revelation and the Tirtha-Glorification of Saptasarasvata in Kurukshetra
पापिष्ठा गर्भहन्तारो मृडान्याः स्वार्थतत्पराः तेन ज्ञानविवेको वै हृतो देवेवन शूलिना
pāpiṣṭhā garbhahantāro mṛḍānyāḥ svārthatatparāḥ tena jñānaviveko vai hṛto devevana śūlinā
“તમે અતિ પાપી—ગર્ભહંતક, નિર્દય અને માત્ર સ્વાર્થમાં તત્પર; તેથી ત્રિશૂલધારી દેવે તમારો જ્ઞાન-વિવેક હરી લીધો છે।”
{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "bibhatsa", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
Garbha-hatyā is treated as a mahāpātaka (grave transgression) in many Dharmaśāstra and Purāṇic contexts because it destroys potential life and lineage continuity. By invoking it, the text intensifies the devas’ culpability and justifies the severe consequence—loss of discernment and divine vision.
It expresses a Purāṇic doctrine of moral cognition: discernment is sustained by dharma and divine favor. When beings act from cruelty and self-interest, the deity may withdraw clarity (viveka), resulting in delusion and incapacity to recognize the divine even when present.
It is a moment of sharp ethical critique rather than a blanket condemnation of devas. In the Andhaka-vadha cycle, cosmic order is restored through exposing faults (including divine pride or misconduct) and re-centering authority in Śiva’s righteous power; the devas’ humiliation functions as a narrative device to reaffirm dharma and the necessity of humility.