Vamana Purana — Ritadhvaja Aids Galava, Shloka 9
Ritadhvaja’s Aid to Galava and Andhaka’s Infatuation with Gauri
स तं प्रगृह्यश्ववरं नरेन्द्रं ऋतध्वजं योज्य तदात्तशस्त्रम् स्थितस्तपस्येव ततो महर्षिर्दैत्यं समेत्य विशिखैर्नृपजो बिभेद // वम्प्_33.8 केनाम्बरतलाद् वाजी निसृष्टो वद सुव्रत वाक् कस्यादेहिनी जाता परं कौतूहलं मम
sa taṃ pragṛhyaśvavaraṃ narendraṃ ṛtadhvajaṃ yojya tadāttaśastram sthitastapasyeva tato maharṣirdaityaṃ sametya viśikhairnṛpajo bibheda // VamP_33.8 kenāmbaratalād vājī nisṛṣṭo vada suvrata vāk kasyādehinī jātā paraṃ kautūhalaṃ mama
Sang resi agung memegang kuda terbaik itu lalu memasangkannya pada Raja Ṛtadhvaja yang telah mengangkat senjata. Teguh berdiri seakan tenggelam dalam tapa, ia menghadapi sang Daitya; dan putra raja itu menembusnya dengan anak panah. Lalu seseorang bertanya: “Siapakah yang melepaskan kuda ini dari hamparan langit? Katakanlah, wahai yang berkaul baik. Suara tanpa raga itu milik siapa? Besar sekali rasa ingin tahuku.”
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FAQs
Ṛtadhvaja appears as a kṣatriya figure whose martial action is enabled by ascetic power and divine signs. The pairing reflects a common Purāṇic ideal: royal force (kṣatra) is most effective when aligned with brahmanical/ascetic tejas.
It suggests unwavering composure and concentrated spiritual force—an ascetic steadiness that can stabilize, empower, or ritually ‘authorize’ the ensuing violence, distinguishing it from mere rage or impulsive fighting.
This is a narrative hinge: the marvel (horse + oracle) demands attribution. The question cues the next passage to identify the divine or cosmic agent behind the intervention, and it also frames the episode as a revelation rather than a random miracle.