Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 44
Karmic Causes of Narakas and the Irremediability of Ingratitude (Kṛtaghna-doṣa)
यथा सुराणां प्रवरो जनार्दनो यथा गिरीणामपि शैशिराद्रिः यथायुधानां प्रवरं सुदर्शनं यथा खगानां विनतातनूजः महोरगाणां प्रवरो ऽप्यनन्तो यथा च भूतेषु मही प्रधाना
yathā surāṇāṃ pravaro janārdano yathā girīṇāmapi śaiśirādriḥ yathāyudhānāṃ pravaraṃ sudarśanaṃ yathā khagānāṃ vinatātanūjaḥ mahoragāṇāṃ pravaro 'pyananto yathā ca bhūteṣu mahī pradhānā
ਜਿਵੇਂ ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਨਾਰਦਨ ਸਰਵੋਤਮ ਹੈ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਪਹਾੜਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ੈਸ਼ਿਰ ਪਹਾੜ ਸਰਵੋਤਮ ਹੈ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਹਥਿਆਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੁਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਸਰਵੋਤਮ ਹੈ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਪੰਛੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਨਤਾ-ਪੁੱਤਰ (ਗਰੁੜ) ਸਰਵੋਤਮ ਹੈ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਮਹਾਨਾਗਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਨੰਤ ਸਰਵੋਤਮ ਹੈ; ਅਤੇ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਧਰਤੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਹੈ—ਉਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ (ਸਤੁਤ ਵਿਸ਼ਾ) ਆਪਣੇ ਵਰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਰਵੋਚ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
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FAQs
The verse teaches discernment of excellence (śreṣṭhatā) as a contemplative aid: by recognizing a ‘foremost’ principle in each domain, the mind is guided toward the supreme refuge (often implicitly the deity or tīrtha being praised in the surrounding passage).
It functions as stuti/upadeśa within Purāṇic narrative rather than a direct pancalakṣaṇa unit. Indirectly it supports Vaṃśānucarita/Manvantara-style cosmology by affirming Vishnu’s supremacy among devas and his cosmic associates (Garuḍa, Ananta).
Sudarśana symbolizes dharma’s cutting discernment; Garuḍa symbolizes Vedic ascent and victory over poison/ignorance; Ananta symbolizes infinite support and stability; Earth as pradhāna symbolizes the field (kṣetra) for dharma and yajña. Together they map a Vaiṣṇava cosmic order centered on sustaining and protecting righteousness.