Vamana Purana — Shiva's Kedara Tirtha, Shloka 50

Shiva’s Kedara-Tirtha and the Rise of Mura: From Shaiva Pilgrimage to Vaishnava Theology

Devanagari script

तमायान्तं यमः श्रुत्वा मत्वावध्यं च संयुगे स समारुह्य महिषं केशवान्तिकमागमत्

Transliteration

tamāyāntaṃ yamaḥ śrutvā matvāvadhyaṃ ca saṃyuge sa samāruhya mahiṣaṃ keśavāntikamāgamat

Translation

അവൻ വരുന്നതായി കേട്ട യമൻ, അവനെ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ അജേയനെന്ന് കരുതി, മഹിഷത്തിൽ കയറി കേശവന്റെ സന്നിധിയിലേക്കു ചെന്നു.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• आयान्तम्: coming
• आयान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-या (धातु) → आयान्त् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्तः (present active participle)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावः (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मत्वा: having thought/considered
• मत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावः (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• अवध्यम्: unslayable
• अवध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण (a-vadhya = not to be slain)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अधिकरणम् (locative)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• समारुह्य: having mounted
• समारुह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावः (gerund/absolutive)

• महिषम्: buffalo
• महिषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• केशव-अन्तिकम्: to Keśava’s vicinity
• केशव-अन्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (केशवस्य अन्तिकम् = near Keśava)

• आगमत्: came
• आगमत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speakers

• Narrator voice describing Yama’s reaction and recourse

Primary Deities

• Yama
• Vishnu (Keśava)

Key Themes

• Divine hierarchy and refuge in Vishnu
• Limits of punitive power before cosmic threats
• Vāhana symbolism (Yama’s buffalo)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Yama go to Keśava instead of confronting Bali directly?

The verse frames Bali as ‘avadhya’ in combat—functionally unstoppable by ordinary means. Yama’s recourse to Keśava reflects the Purāṇic principle that when cosmic order is threatened beyond a deity’s operational scope, ultimate sovereignty rests with Vishnu.

What is the significance of Yama’s buffalo (mahiṣa)?

The buffalo is Yama’s emblematic vāhana, associated with inexorable force and the gravity of judgment. Its mention underscores Yama’s official capacity as enforcer of dharma, even as he seeks higher divine counsel or protection.

Does ‘Keśavāntika’ imply a specific sacred place?

In this verse it functions as a relational marker—‘to the vicinity/presence of Keśava’—without naming a terrestrial tirtha. Some Purāṇic passages elsewhere localize Keśava in specific kṣetras, but that localization is not provided here.