Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

यावद् द्विजस्य देवर्षे समाप्तिर्वै समाधितः जाते जप्यावसाने ऽसौ त ददर्श निशाचरम्

Transliteration

yāvad dvijasya devarṣe samāptirvai samādhitaḥ jāte japyāvasāne 'sau ta dadarśa niśācaram

Translation

When the brahmin’s rite had reached its settled completion, O divine seer, and the recitation (japa) came to its end, he then saw that night-roaming being.

Speakers

• Pulastya (or the internal narrator) addressing Nārada as devarṣi (chapter-frame convention)

Key Themes

• Efficacy and completion of japa
• Ritual sequencing (protection → japa → encounter/vision)
• Ascetic/ritual authority over harmful beings

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is addressed as “devarṣe” here?

“Devarṣi” is a conventional vocative for a divine sage—most commonly Nārada in Purāṇic dialogue frames—signaling that the narration is being delivered to a seer-recipient.

What is the narrative function of “japyāvasāne” (at the end of japa)?

It marks the moment when ritual potency is fully ‘sealed’; only after completion does the restrained being become visible/approachable, emphasizing correct ritual procedure.

Is the ‘seeing’ (darśana) here a spiritual vision or a literal encounter?

The diction supports a literal encounter within the story-world, but Purāṇic style often allows a double sense: ritual completion grants both physical safety and a controlled ‘darśana’ of otherwise dangerous beings.