Vamana Purana — Merit of Shravana Dvadashi, Shloka 34

The Merit of Śravaṇa-Dvādaśī and the Liberation of a Preta through Gayā Piṇḍa-Rites

Devanagari script

प्रोवाच यक्ष्ये ऽहं यज्ञैरश्वमेधैः सदक्षिमैः तदागच्छध्वमवनीं गच्छामो वसुधाधिपान्

Transliteration

provāca yakṣye 'haṃ yajñairaśvamedhaiḥ sadakṣimaiḥ tadāgacchadhvamavanīṃ gacchāmo vasudhādhipān

Translation

He said: “I shall perform sacrifices—Aśvamedha rites—together with competent officiants. Therefore, come to the earth; let us go to the lords of the land (the kings).”

Speakers

• Unspecified in the excerpt (a leading figure—likely a king or yajamāna—addressing his entourage/assistants).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Agni

Key Themes

• Royal sacrifice (Aśvamedha)
• Ritual competence (dakṣa)
• Mobilization for pilgrimage/ritual campaign
• Political-religious sovereignty

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the text emphasize Aśvamedha in a tīrtha-oriented Purāṇa?

In Purāṇic tīrtha-cycles, royal yajñas often function as narrative engines: they justify travel, the gathering of sages and kings, and the sanctification of specific rivers/places where rites are performed. Aśvamedha also signals the patron’s imperial status and the scale of merit sought.

Who are the ‘vasudhādhipāḥ’ here?

Literally ‘lords of the earth’, the term commonly denotes regional kings. In ritual narratives, inviting or approaching kings can indicate (i) seeking consent/support, (ii) summoning participants and witnesses, or (iii) establishing the yajamāna’s political legitimacy alongside ritual authority.

What does ‘sadakṣimaiḥ’ imply about the rite?

It underscores orthodox performance: a major śrauta rite like Aśvamedha requires expert ṛtvij-priests and correct procedure. The verse frames the undertaking as properly staffed and therefore efficacious.