Vamana Purana — Shukra's Samjivani, Shloka 157

Shukra’s Saṃjīvanī, Shiva’s Containment of the Asuras, and Indra’s Recovery of Power

Devanagari script

तावापतन्तौ भगवान् निरीक्ष्य सुदर्शनेनारिविनाशनेन विष्णुः कुजम्भं निजघान वेगात् स स्यन्दनाद् गामगमद् गतासुः

Transliteration

tāvāpatantau bhagavān nirīkṣya sudarśanenārivināśanena viṣṇuḥ kujambhaṃ nijaghāna vegāt sa syandanād gāmagamad gatāsuḥ

Translation

Seeing those two charging, the Blessed Lord Viṣṇu, with Sudarśana—the destroyer of enemies—struck down Kujambha with speed; and he, his life departed, fell from his chariot to the ground.

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic voice) describing Viṣṇu’s intervention; no direct speech in the verse.

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu
• Indra (Śakra)

Key Themes

• Divine intervention
• Sudarśana as cosmic weapon
• Protection of Indra and the devas
• Swift retribution against asuras

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the theological significance of Sudarśana being called ‘ārivināśana’ (destroyer of enemies)?

It frames Sudarśana not merely as a weapon but as a personified principle of divine order that removes adharmic opposition. In Purāṇic idiom, the cakra embodies Viṣṇu’s sovereign capacity to restore balance instantly.

Does this verse imply Viṣṇu is physically present on the battlefield?

Yes, the narrative presents Viṣṇu as directly perceiving the charge and acting immediately. Whether read literally or as a theophany, the text’s intent is to assert Viṣṇu’s decisive guardianship over the devas.

Why is only Kujambha named as slain here though ‘those two’ were charging?

The verse isolates Kujambha’s death as the trigger for the next emotional turn—Jambha’s rage—creating a clear causal chain: Kujambha’s fall → Jambha’s wrath → renewed assault on Indra.