Shloka 4

Indra's Campaign on Mount Malaya — Indra’s Campaign on Mount Malaya and the Birth of the Maruts (Origin of the Epithet Gotrabhid)

Devanagari script

ददृशुर्मलयं शैलं सिद्धाध्युषितकन्दरम् लतावितासंछन्नं मत्तसत्त्वसमाकुलम्

Transliteration

dadṛśurmalayaṃ śailaṃ siddhādhyuṣitakandaram latāvitāsaṃchannaṃ mattasattvasamākulam

Translation

അവർ മലയപർവ്വതം കണ്ടു—സിദ്ധർ അധിവസിക്കുന്ന ഗുഹകളുള്ളത്, ലതകളും കാടുകളും മൂടിയിരിക്കുന്നത്, മദോന്മത്ത വന്യജീവികളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നത്।

Speakers

• Narratorial voice continuing the account of the defeated Asura band’s movement.

Primary Deities

• Siddhas (semi-divine beings)

Key Themes

• Purāṇic sacred geography
• Mountain as liminal refuge
• Presence of Siddhas in wilderness caves

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Malaya mountain significant in Purāṇic geography?

Malaya is a celebrated southern mountain associated with coolness, dense forests, and especially sandalwood. It often appears as a marker of the southern quarter and as a habitat of Siddhas and other non-human beings.

What is conveyed by ‘siddhādhyuṣitakandaram’ (caves inhabited by Siddhas)?

It frames the mountain as a spiritually charged landscape: Siddhas are perfected beings who dwell in remote places. Their presence signals austerity, hidden power, and a terrain not fully accessible to ordinary humans.

Does the description serve a narrative function beyond scenery?

Yes. After defeat, the Asuras move into a dense, potent wilderness—suggesting concealment, regrouping, and entry into a region where extraordinary beings (Siddhas, powerful fauna) shape the atmosphere and potential outcomes.