Varaha Purana 27.2: Adhyaya 27, Shloka 2

The Slaying of Andhaka and the Manifestation of the Eight Mother-Goddesses from Divine Afflictions

Devanagari script

तेनात्मवान् सुराः सर्वे त्याजिता मेरुपर्वतम् । ब्रह्माणं शरणं जग्मुरन्धकस्य भयार्दिताः ॥ २७.२ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 27.2

Transliteration

tenātmavān surāḥ sarve tyājitā meru-parvatam | brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ jagmur andhakasya bhayārditāḥ || 27.2 ||

Translation

അവൻ (അന്ധകൻ) കാരണം ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണമുള്ള എല്ലാ ദേവന്മാരും മേരു പർവതത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഒഴിപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. അന്ധകഭയത്തിൽ പീഡിതരായി അവർ ശരണാർത്ഥം ബ്രഹ്മാവിനെ സമീപിച്ചു.

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Word by Word

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आत्मवान्: self-possessed / mighty
• आत्मवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (implicit of ‘अन्धकः’/agent)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of सुराः)

• त्याजिताः: were forced to abandon
• त्याजिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (causative PPP): ‘made to abandon’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (agreed with सुराः)

• मेरु-पर्वतम्: Mount Meru
• मेरु-पर्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: मेरुः एव पर्वतः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (idiom with गम्: ‘take refuge’)

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• अन्धकस्य: of Andhaka
• अन्धकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• भय-आर्दिताः: afflicted by fear
• भय-आर्दिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्दित (अर्द् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: भयेन आर्दिताः (afflicted by fear); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of सुराः)

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker framework; not explicit in fragment)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Sacred Geography
• Indic Cosmology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic narrative motif in which devas, overwhelmed by an antagonistic figure, seek counsel and protection from a higher cosmic authority (here, Brahmā). This helps situate the text within the wider Sanskrit Purāṇa tradition of mythic historiography and cosmological storytelling.

Which geographic location is identified?

Meru (Mount Meru) is named. In Purāṇic cosmology it functions as the central world-mountain (axis mundi), a conceptual sacred-geographic landmark rather than a single securely identified physical peak in modern geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds a philosophical instruction about seeking refuge in legitimate counsel/authority during crisis—an ethical theme of prudence and recourse to guidance—rather than glorifying conflict.