Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Defeat & Redemption, Shloka 23

Andhaka’s Defeat, the Bhairava Manifestation, and His Redemption as Bhṛṅgī Gaṇapati

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं सर्वामरगणक्षयम् दैत्यः शङ्करमभ्यागाद् गदामादाय वेगवान्

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ sarvāmaragaṇakṣayam daityaḥ śaṅkaramabhyāgād gadāmādāya vegavān

Translation

ਉਹ ਵੱਡਾ ਅਚੰਭਾ—ਸਾਰੇ ਅਮਰ-ਗਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਲੋਪ—ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਦੈਤ ਤੇਜ਼ੀ ਨਾਲ ਗਦਾ ਚੁੱਕ ਕੇ ਸ਼ੰਕਰ ਵੱਲ ਦੌੜਿਆ।

Speakers

• Narrator describing the Daitya’s reaction and attack on Śiva

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Shankara)

Key Themes

• Miraculous concealment/protection
• Asura aggression
• Battle escalation
• Marvel (āścarya) as narrative pivot

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does ‘sarvāmaragaṇakṣaya’ mean here—were the gods destroyed?

In this context it points to their sudden ‘disappearance’ from the scene (withdrawn into Śiva), not literal annihilation; the Daitya interprets it as a loss and is provoked into direct assault.

Why is the mace (gadā) highlighted?

The gadā is a standard emblem of asuric martial force and signals close-combat intent; narratively it marks the transition from astonishment to immediate violence.

How does this verse function within the Andhaka-vadha arc?

It sets up the direct confrontation: Śiva isolates the conflict by safeguarding the devas, and the Daitya—angered by the marvel—charges Śiva, intensifying the battle toward the climactic subjugation.