Vamana Purana — Indra's Penance & Aditi's Vow, Shloka 22

Indra’s Penance at the Great River and Aditi’s Solar Vow for Vishnu’s Descent

Devanagari script

ततो गदाधरः प्रीतो वासवं प्राह नारद गच्छ प्रीतो ऽस्मि भवतो मुक्तपापो ऽसि साम्प्रतम्

Transliteration

tato gadādharaḥ prīto vāsavaṃ prāha nārada gaccha prīto 'smi bhavato muktapāpo 'si sāmpratam

Translation

tāta: dear son; madvīrya: by my valor/power; vinirjita: conquered/obtained by overcoming; sura-uttama: the best among the gods (i.e., Indra/Devas); trailokya-rājya: kingship over the three worlds; bhuñja: enjoy, rule, partake of; bhṛtya: servant/retainer; puraḥsthita: standing in front, present before (in attendance).

Speakers

• Gadādhara (Vishnu) addressing Indra (Vāsava); the vocative ‘Nārada’ signals the broader narration/dialogue frame involving Nārada

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Gadādhara)
• Indra (Vāsava)
• Nārada (as interlocutor/frame)

Key Themes

• Divine grace (anugraha)
• Penance leading to purification
• Removal of pāpa (sin)
• Restoration of divine order

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Vishnu declare Indra ‘freed from sin’ (mukta-pāpa)?

The statement marks the fruition of tapas: sustained restraint and devotion culminate in purification, making Indra eligible for restoration/assistance in the larger divine narrative.

How should we understand the sudden address ‘Nārada’ within Vishnu’s speech?

It reflects Purāṇic framing: the story is embedded in a dialogue where Nārada is present as listener/questioner, so the narrator preserves that vocative even while reporting Vishnu’s words to Indra.

Does ‘gaccha’ imply dismissal or commissioning?

Typically commissioning: the deity’s satisfaction authorizes the devotee to proceed—often to resume rightful duties—now that the impediment of pāpa is removed.