Vamana Purana — Harihara Non-Duality, Shloka 18

Harihara Non-Duality and the Revelation of Sadasiva to the Ganas

Devanagari script

एते चान्ये च बहवः शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः सहायार्थं तवायाता यथाप्रीत्यादिशस्व तान्

Transliteration

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ sahāyārthaṃ tavāyātā yathāprītyādiśasva tān

Translation

Mereka ini dan ramai lagi yang lain—beratus-ratus bahkan beribu-ribu—telah datang untuk membantumu. Perintahkanlah mereka menurut kehendak dan keredaanmu.

Speakers

• Narrative voice reporting the gaṇas’ readiness (traditional frame: Pulastya to Nārada)

Primary Deities

• Śiva
• Vīrabhadra

Key Themes

• Divine kingship/command
• Mobilization of cosmic forces
• Bhakti as service (sahāya-bhāva)
• Scale of Śiva’s retinue

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the narrative function of counting ‘hundreds and thousands’ of gaṇas?

It magnifies the cosmic scale of the conflict and underscores Śiva’s inexhaustible capacity to generate and command protective forces, a common Purāṇic technique to convey divine supremacy.

Does ‘command them as you please’ imply arbitrariness?

No. ‘Yathāprīti’ indicates sovereign discretion aligned with dharma and cosmic order in Purāṇic narrative logic—Śiva’s will is presented as intrinsically efficacious and order-establishing in crisis.

How does this verse relate to the Andhaka episode?

The Andhaka cycle often escalates into a battlefield of gods, demons, and gaṇas; this verse marks the mustering phase, preparing for Śiva’s decisive action against demonic forces.