Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

स त्वं मुहूर्तमात्रं मामत्रैवं प्रतिपालय निवेद्य गुरवे यावदिहागच्छाम्यहं फलम्

Transliteration

sa tvaṃ muhūrtamātraṃ māmatraivaṃ pratipālaya nivedya gurave yāvadihāgacchāmyahaṃ phalam

Translation

svāhākāra: the utterance “svāhā,” the consecrating formula in fire-offerings to deities; hantakāra: the exclamation “hanta,” an emphatic particle used in discourse (often ‘indeed!, come!, well!’), here treated as a sound-form of divine presence; sarvākāra: “having all forms,” immanent in every manifestation; nirākāra: “formless,” transcendent beyond attributes and shape; vedākāra: “having the form of the Veda,” i.e., the deity as the very structure/authority of revealed knowledge; namas: salutation.

Speakers

• Same speaker addressing the rākṣasa (requesting a brief reprieve/assistance)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

Key Themes

• Truthfulness/keeping one’s word (implied by promise to return)
• Guru-sevā
• Time-unit (muhūrta) in ritual/narrative framing
• Negotiation with a liminal being (rākṣasa)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the narrative function of specifying ‘muhūrta-mātra’?

It sets a precise, bounded interval that tests sincerity and establishes a dharmic contract: the speaker asks for a short, measurable reprieve, implying confidence in returning and in the moral force of a promise.

Is ‘pratipālaya’ here physical protection or moral ‘keeping watch’?

Primarily physical/guardianship—‘stand by me here’—but in Purāṇic dialogue it also carries the sense of ‘do not obstruct; allow the vow/act to be completed,’ which is a moral concession by the rākṣasa.

How does guru-offering relate to tīrtha-mahātmya literature?

Tīrtha sections often integrate dharma exempla: pilgrimage merit is amplified when paired with guru-bhakti, restraint, and truthful conduct; the sacred place becomes the stage where these virtues are demonstrated.