Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Coronation, Shloka 23

Andhaka’s Coronation, Boons from Shiva, and the Daiva–Asura War (Vahana Catalogues)

Devanagari script

आरुह्य वाहनान्येवं स्वानि स्वान्यमरोत्तमाः संनह्य निर्ययुर्हृष्टा युद्धाय सुमहौजसः

Transliteration

āruhya vāhanānyevaṃ svāni svānyamarottamāḥ saṃnahya niryayurhṛṣṭā yuddhāya sumahaujasaḥ

Translation

Demikian para dewa termulia menaiki wahana masing-masing; setelah mempersenjatai diri, mereka yang berdaya besar berangkat dengan sukacita menuju peperangan.

Word by Word

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: पूर्वकाल (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: आ-रुह् ‘to mount/ascend’

• वाहनानि: vehicles/mounts
• वाहनानि: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• स्वानि: their own
• स्वानि: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘वाहनानि’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• स्वानि: their respective
• स्वानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• अमर-उत्तमाः: the best of the gods
• अमर-उत्तमाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (among immortals, the best)

• संनह्य: having armed/prepared (themselves)
• संनह्य: पूर्वकाल (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: सम्-नह् ‘to arm/prepare’

• निर्ययुः: went out
• निर्ययुः: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: निर्-या ‘to go out’

• हृष्टाः: delighted
• हृष्टाः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √हृष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भाववाचक विशेषण

• युद्धाय: for battle
• युद्धाय: प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान (Purpose/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• सु-महा-ओजसः: of very great might
• सु-महा-ओजसः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘very great in vigor’

Speakers

• Narratorial continuation within Pulastya–Nārada frame (no direct speech marker in this verse)

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Martial readiness
• Cosmic order (dharma protected by Devas)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is not merely contemplative; when order is threatened, righteous powers must prepare with discipline (saṃnahya) and act without hesitation. Joy (hṛṣṭa) here signals confidence rooted in duty rather than aggression for its own sake.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This belongs most closely to Vaṃśānucarita / narrative of divine-historical episodes (itihāsa-like combat sequences involving Devas and their opponents), rather than sarga/pratisarga. It functions as episodic narration within the Purāṇic storyline.

What is the symbolic significance?

Mounting one’s vāhana signifies aligning one’s innate power (śakti) with its proper instrument—each deity’s distinctive function is activated for restoring balance. The collective departure depicts coordinated cosmic governance.