Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 17
The Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu (Vishnu-Pañjara) and the Redemption of a Rakshasa
चित्तवृत्तिहरा ये च ये जनाः स्मृतीहारकाः बलौजसां च हर्तारश्छायाविध्वंसकाश्च ये
cittavṛttiharā ye ca ye janāḥ smṛtīhārakāḥ balaujasāṃ ca hartāraśchāyāvidhvaṃsakāśca ye
[{"question": "Why is Viṣṇu called “Yajñadhvaja” in Purāṇic literature?", "answer": "Purāṇas frequently equate Viṣṇu with yajña: He is the recipient, inner essence, and sustaining power of sacrificial order. Calling Him “Yajñadhvaja” makes sacrifice itself His defining ‘standard,’ aligning ritual order with divine sovereignty."}, {"question": "What is the significance of “Garuḍadhvaja”?", "answer": "It is a hallmark Vaiṣṇava epithet: Viṣṇu is ‘marked by Garuḍa’ on His banner, signaling His identity as the Lord who rides Garuḍa and whose presence dispels obstacles and affirms protection. It also distinguishes Him iconographically from other deities in multi-deity narratives."}, {"question": "Does “Tāladhvaja” have a fixed, universally agreed referent?", "answer": "Not always. ‘Palm-bannered’ appears across Sanskrit traditions as a banner-epithet; in this stuti it functions as one among several dhvaja-compounds emphasizing the Lord’s emblematic supremacy. Without additional surrounding verses specifying a particular mythic episode, it is best treated as a poetic honorific rather than a precise narrative identifier."}]
{ "primaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
They denote harmful forces—often conceived as grahas, bhūtas, or malevolent beings—that disturb mental steadiness and cause forgetfulness or confusion. The verse frames these as ‘stealers’ of inner faculties rather than as ordinary human opponents.
While literally ‘shadow,’ in many ritual and Purāṇic contexts chāyā can signify a person’s protective presence, auspiciousness, or subtle vitality. ‘Chāyā-vidhvaṃsaka’ thus points to forces believed to erode well-being, luck, or protective aura.
Bala is physical/functional strength, while ojas is the refined vital essence associated with immunity, radiance, and resilience. Pairing them covers both gross and subtle vitality that a protective prayer seeks to safeguard.