Vamana Purana — Shukra's Samjivani, Shloka 61

Shukra’s Saṃjīvanī, Shiva’s Containment of the Asuras, and Indra’s Recovery of Power

Devanagari script

यदा न शकिता योद्धुं दैवतैरमरारयः तदा मायं समाश्रित्य ग्रसन्तः क्रमशो ऽव्ययान्

Transliteration

yadā na śakitā yoddhuṃ daivatairamarārayaḥ tadā māyaṃ samāśritya grasantaḥ kramaśo 'vyayān

Translation

When the enemies of the immortals (the asuras) were unable to fight against the gods, then, resorting to māyā (illusion/occult power), they began to swallow up, one by one, those who were imperishable.

Speakers

• Narrator continuing the battle account to the addressed sage

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Asuric māyā (illusion) as a war tactic
• Limits of brute force vs. deception
• Imperishability of devas vs. temporary ‘engulfment’

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

How can ‘imperishable’ beings be ‘swallowed’ by asuras?

Purāṇic language often distinguishes between ultimate destruction and temporary overpowering. ‘Swallowing’ can indicate magical concealment, immobilization, or removal from the battlefield via māyā, not literal annihilation of the deathless gods.

What does māyā signify here—illusion or real power?

In Purāṇic warfare, māyā is both: a deceptive appearance that alters perception and an occult efficacy that produces tangible battlefield effects (binding, vanishing, creating phantasmal armies). It marks a shift from direct combat to supernatural stratagem.

Why is resorting to māyā framed as a response to inability to fight?

The verse presents māyā as a compensatory tactic when straightforward martial strength fails. This underscores a moral-literary contrast: devas represent dharmic order, while asuras, when outmatched, turn to deception and destabilizing powers.