Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 77

The Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu (Vishnu-Pañjara) and the Redemption of a Rakshasa

Devanagari script

पुण्यपापविनिर्मुक्ता यं प्रविश्य पुनर्भवम् न योगिनः प्राप्नुवन्ति तमस्मि शरणं गतः

Transliteration

puṇyapāpavinirmuktā yaṃ praviśya punarbhavam na yoginaḥ prāpnuvanti tamasmi śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

Translation

[{"question": "What is the significance of calling the Lord “guṇādhyakṣa” and also “akṣara”?", "answer": "“Guṇādhyakṣa” presents the Lord as immanent governor of nature’s qualities and their effects, while “akṣara” asserts transcendence—He remains unchanged even while presiding over change. The pairing expresses Purāṇic panentheism: the world operates under Him, yet He is not diminished by it."}, {"question": "Why is “puṣkarekṣaṇa” (lotus-eyed) important in a theological hymn?", "answer": "It is both iconographic and affective: it identifies the deity in Vaiṣṇava imagery and evokes auspiciousness, beauty, and compassion—supporting the verse’s emphasis on refuge and the Lord’s tenderness toward devotees."}, {"question": "How does “bhaktavatsala” shape the implied practice for pilgrims or listeners?", "answer": "It frames the Supreme as responsive to devotion rather than merely to ritual correctness. In tīrtha contexts, it encourages pilgrimage, vows, and worship to be performed with bhakti, since divine grace is portrayed as especially inclined toward the devotee."}]

Speakers

• Unspecified in the provided excerpt (stuti voice within the Saro-māhātmya narrative frame).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Mokṣa (freedom from rebirth)
• Transcending puṇya and pāpa (beyond karmic duality)
• Yogic attainment and its culmination
• Śaraṇāgati

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the verse say liberation involves being freed from both puṇya and pāpa?

Both merit (puṇya) and sin (pāpa) are forms of karma that yield results within saṃsāra. Liberation is described as transcending karmic accounting altogether—going beyond dualities that keep one within the cycle of reward and consequence.

What does “yaṃ praviśya” (“entering whom”) mean—union, proximity, or a heavenly realm?

Purāṇic diction allows layered meanings: entering can signify attaining the Lord’s supreme state (parama-pada), abiding in His presence, or realizing identity/union in a Vedāntic sense. The decisive marker here is the result: no return to punarbhava (rebirth).

Why mention yogins specifically?

By referencing yogins, the verse underscores that even the highest disciplined practitioners culminate in the same final refuge: the Supreme Lord. It also elevates the stuti’s claim—this refuge is not merely for ordinary devotees but is the consummation of yogic striving.