Vamana Purana — Indra's Penance & Aditi's Vow, Shloka 11

Indra’s Penance at the Great River and Aditi’s Solar Vow for Vishnu’s Descent

Devanagari script

शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिर्माधवः पुरुषोत्तमः तं प्रपद्यस्व शरणं स ते श्रेयो विधास्यति

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇirmādhavaḥ puruṣottamaḥ taṃ prapadyasva śaraṇaṃ sa te śreyo vidhāsyati

Translation

{"has_teachingVamana Purana,50,12,VamP 50.12,sahasrākṣo 'pi vacanaṃ gurūṇāṃ sa niśamya vai provāca svalpakālena kasmin prāpyo bahūdayaḥ tamūcurdevatā martye svalpakāle mahodayaḥ,सहस्राक्षो ऽपि वचनं गुरूणां स निशम्य वै प्रोवाच स्वल्पकालेन कस्मिन् प्राप्यो बहूदयः तमूचुर्देवता मर्त्ये स्वल्पकाले महोदयः,Vamana-Bali Narrative (Devas’ Counsel and Indra’s Query),Dialogue / Narrative Transition (Question on swift attainment of prosperity),Adhyāya 50 (Title: Indra hears the gurus’ words and asks about quick attainment of great fortune),50.12,sahasrākṣo 'pi vacanaṃ gurūṇāṃ sa niśamya vai provāca svalpakālena kasmin prāpyo bahūdayaḥ tamūcurdevatā martye svalpakāle mahodayaḥ,sahasrākṣo 'pi vacanaṃ gurūṇāṃ sa niśamya vai | provāca svalpa-kālena kasmin prāpyo bahūdayaḥ || tam ūcur devatā martye svalpa-kāle mahodayaḥ ||,Having heard the words of the gurus

Speakers

• Devas (elders/gurus) instructing Indra (Sahasrākṣa)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Mādhava/Puruṣottama)
• Indra

Key Themes

• Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge)
• Divine protection of devas
• Iconography of Viṣṇu (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā)
• Śreyas (highest welfare)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Viṣṇu described specifically as ‘bearing conch, discus, and mace’ here?

The verse uses standard Vaiṣṇava iconography to identify the refuge unambiguously: śaṅkha (proclamation of dharma), cakra (sovereign protection and removal of adharma), and gadā (divine strength). The emphasis is practical—Indra is being directed to the one power capable of restoring cosmic order.

What does ‘śreyas’ imply in this context—victory, salvation, or both?

Śreyas is deliberately broad: it can include immediate welfare (restoration of Indra’s position and the devas’ security) and ultimate good (alignment with dharma through surrender). Puranic counsel often frames political/cosmic outcomes as flowing from spiritual rightness (śaraṇāgati).

Is this verse part of a larger narrative arc connected to Vāmana/Trivikrama?

Yes. Such counsel to seek Viṣṇu’s refuge typically precedes the Vāmana intervention against Bali. The narrative logic is: devas are distressed → they approach higher counsel → surrender to Viṣṇu → Viṣṇu manifests an avatāra to re-balance sovereignty.