Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 115

The Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu (Vishnu-Pañjara) and the Redemption of a Rakshasa

Devanagari script

अहर्निशं हृषीकेशं स्तवेनानेन राक्षस स्तुहि भक्तिं दृढां कृत्वा ततः पापाद् विमोक्ष्यसे

Transliteration

aharniśaṃ hṛṣīkeśaṃ stavenānena rākṣasa stuhi bhaktiṃ dṛḍhāṃ kṛtvā tataḥ pāpād vimokṣyase

Translation

{"primary_rasa": "shanta", "secondary_rasa": "adbhuta", "intensity": 7, "emotional_arc": "The pilgrims’ wonder resolves into deep contentment as they enter the lake, culminating in tranquil joy.", "mood_keywords": ["contentment", "coolness", "purification", "gentle joy", "homecoming", "reverence"]}

Speakers

• Unspecified in provided excerpt; a teacher/authority figure instructing a rākṣasa addressee

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Hṛṣīkeśa)

Key Themes

• Continuous remembrance (smaraṇa) and praise
• Bhakti as transformative discipline
• Moral purification (pāpa-vimokṣa)
• Inclusivity of devotion (even a rākṣasa is eligible)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is the addressee called ‘rākṣasa’—what is the doctrinal point?

The address underscores that bhakti and stuti are not restricted by birth or species; even one marked as ‘rākṣasa’ can attain purification through steadfast devotion to Hṛṣīkeśa.

What does ‘aharniśam’ imply as a practice?

It indicates regular, sustained engagement—constant recitation or continual devotional orientation—rather than a one-time ritual act, aligning with Purāṇic ideals of nāma/stuti as ongoing sādhana.

How does ‘Hṛṣīkeśa’ connect to the verse’s promise of liberation from sin?

As ‘Lord of the senses’, Hṛṣīkeśa signifies mastery and purification of sensory life; firm bhakti reorients the senses toward the divine, which the text presents as a direct means to pāpa-vimokṣa.