Vamana Purana — Shiva's Kedara Tirtha, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

यमस्तं प्राहं मां विष्णुर्देवश्चक्रगदाधरः श्वेतद्वीपनिवासी यः स मां संयमते ऽव्ययः

Transliteration

yamastaṃ prāhaṃ māṃ viṣṇurdevaścakragadādharaḥ śvetadvīpanivāsī yaḥ sa māṃ saṃyamate 'vyayaḥ

Translation

യമൻ അവനോട് പറഞ്ഞു: 'ചക്രവും ഗദയും ധരിക്കുന്നവനും, ശ്വേതദ്വീപിൽ വസിക്കുന്നവനും, നാശമില്ലാത്തവനുമായ വിഷ്ണുദേവനാണ് എന്നെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്നത്.'

Speakers

• Yama speaking to Muru

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Yama

Key Themes

• Supremacy of Vishnu
• Delegated authority of Yama
• Cosmic governance (niyati/dharma)
• Vaishnava theological framing within broader Purāṇic narrative

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is Śvetadvīpa in Purāṇic geography and theology?

Śvetadvīpa is portrayed as a luminous, transcendent ‘white’ realm associated with Nārāyaṇa/Viṣṇu. It functions both as sacred geography and as a theological marker of Viṣṇu’s supramundane sovereignty.

Why emphasize Viṣṇu’s weapons (discus and mace) here?

The epithets identify Viṣṇu unambiguously as the sovereign protector and enforcer of cosmic order. The weapons symbolize decisive governance: protection of dharma and subduing of adharma.

What does it mean that Viṣṇu ‘restrains’ Yama?

It indicates hierarchy: Yama administers dharma, but his jurisdiction is bounded and authorized by Viṣṇu. The verse asserts that even the lord of punishment operates under a higher, imperishable principle.