Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Coronation, Shloka 20

Andhaka’s Coronation, Boons from Shiva, and the Daiva–Asura War (Vahana Catalogues)

Devanagari script

रथं चन्द्रमसश्चार्द्धूसहस्रं हंसवाहनम् हरयो रथवाहाश्च आदित्या मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

rathaṃ candramasaścārddhūsahasraṃ haṃsavāhanam harayo rathavāhāśca ādityā munisattama

Translation

ਹੇ ਮੁਨਿਸੱਤਮ! ਚੰਦਰਮਾ ਦਾ ਰਥ ਅੱਧ-ਸਹਸ੍ਰ (ਪੰਜ ਸੌ) ਘੋੜਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਯੁਕਤ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਵਾਹਨ ਹੰਸ ਹੈ। ਹਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਆਦਿਤ੍ਯ ਵੀ ਰਥਵਾਹੀ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• candramasaḥ: of the Moon
• candramasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candramas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• ardha-sahasram: half a thousand (five hundred)
• ardha-sahasram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘सहस्रस्य अर्धम्’ (half of a thousand = five hundred)

• haṃsa-vāhanam: swan-mount (vehicle)
• haṃsa-vāhanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haṃsa + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘हंसः वाहनम् यस्य’ (having a swan as mount)

• harayaḥ: the Haris (horses)
• harayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ratha-vāhāḥ: chariot-drawing
• ratha-vāhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha + vāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘रथं वहन्ति’ (chariot-drawing)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• ādityāḥ: the Ādityas
• ādityāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘मुनीनाम् सत्तमः’ (best of sages)

Speakers

• Narrative frame not explicit in the given verses; commonly in Vāmana Purāṇa: Pulastya → Nārada (uncertain here).

Primary Deities

• Candra
• Ādityas
• Haris (Viṣṇu-associated class)

Key Themes

• Deva cosmology
• Divine retinues
• Iconography (vāhana/vehicles)
• Purāṇic cataloguing

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes cosmic order (ṛta) expressed through well-defined roles, ranks, and ‘vehicles’ of divine powers—suggesting a universe structured rather than random, where each force has its appointed function.

How does this fit the Pañcalakṣaṇa?

Primarily under Sarga (world-structure/cosmological description) and, secondarily, Vaṁśānucarita-style cataloguing of divine classes (though not genealogy proper, it is a classificatory listing typical of Purāṇic cosmography).

What is the symbolic significance?

Candra’s chariot and the haṁsa-vāhana image point to regulated movement and discernment: the haṁsa is a common symbol of viveka (discrimination). The chariot motif conveys controlled, purposeful motion of celestial principles.