Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

सा प्रोवाच द्विजसुतं राक्षसग्रहणाकुलम् मा भैर्द्विजसुताहं त्वां मोक्षयिष्यामि संकटात्

Transliteration

sā provāca dvijasutaṃ rākṣasagrahaṇākulam mā bhairdvijasutāhaṃ tvāṃ mokṣayiṣyāmi saṃkaṭāt

Translation

“That which is the rākṣasa’s advantage—resting upon the tip of your tongue—I shall tell you in full; then you will obtain release.”

Speakers

• Sarasvatī to the dvijasuta (brahmin youth).

Primary Deities

• Sarasvatī

Key Themes

• Divine protection of devotees
• Tirtha as refuge (śaraṇya)
• Deliverance (mokṣa/mocana) from demonic affliction

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does ‘rākṣasagrahaṇa’ imply—possession, abduction, or attack?

Grahaṇa literally means ‘seizing.’ In Purāṇic idiom it can cover abduction, physical restraint, or a hostile ‘grasp’ akin to affliction. The verse’s emphasis on ākulatā (distress) and promised mokṣa (release) supports a concrete peril, whether bodily capture or overpowering attack.

Why is the victim identified as ‘dvijasuta’?

The label marks ritual-social identity: a brahmin youth represents Vedic continuity and vulnerability. In tīrtha narratives, the rescue of a dvija underscores the tīrtha’s dharmic function—protecting those aligned with sacred learning and conduct.

Does Sarasvatī’s promise of ‘mokṣa’ mean liberation in the ultimate sense?

Here mokṣa is primarily ‘release’ from immediate danger (saṃkaṭa). Purāṇas often use mokṣa/mocana in both senses; the local context favors deliverance from the rākṣasa, while still hinting at the tīrtha’s broader salvific power.