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

{"scene_description": "Vishnu as Nārāyaṇa with Viṣvaksena aspect—commanding presence, banners marked with truth and steadfastness fluttering behind, devotees praising.", "primary_figures": ["Nārāyaṇa (Vishnu)", "Viṣvaksena (as attendant/commander aspect)", "Devotees"], "setting": "Celestial court or temple forecourt with ceremonial banners.", "color_palette": ["royal blue", "gold", "white", "scarlet", "black accents"], "tanjore_prompt": "Tanjore Vishnu as Nārāyaṇa with gold leaf halo, Viṣvaksena attendant with spear, ceremonial dhvajas inscribed ‘satya’ and ‘dhruva’, ornate pillars, jewel tones, devotional symmetry", "pahari_prompt": "Pahari miniature with fluttering banners on a palace terrace, Vishnu calm yet sovereign, attendants and devotees, soft clouds, fine brushwork, gentle heroism", "kerala_mural_prompt": "Kerala mural, Vishnu with commanding stance, bold banner motifs behind, Viṣvaksena rendered as guardian figure, strong outlines, temple mural palette", "pattachitra_prompt": "Pattachitra, stylized banners and labels ‘dhruvadhvaja’ ‘satyadhvaja’, Vishnu central with conch/discus, rhythmic border patterns, narrative stuti panel"}

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.