Shloka 4

Indra's Campaign on Mount Malaya — Indra’s Campaign on Mount Malaya and the Birth of the Maruts (Origin of the Epithet Gotrabhid)

Devanagari script

ददृशुर्मलयं शैलं सिद्धाध्युषितकन्दरम् लतावितासंछन्नं मत्तसत्त्वसमाकुलम्

Transliteration

dadṛśurmalayaṃ śailaṃ siddhādhyuṣitakandaram latāvitāsaṃchannaṃ mattasattvasamākulam

Translation

They beheld the Malaya mountain, whose caves were inhabited by Siddhas, covered over with creepers and thickets, and crowded with wild creatures in rut (or intoxicated with their own vigor).

Speakers

• Narratorial voice continuing the account of the defeated Asura band’s movement.

Primary Deities

• Siddhas (semi-divine beings)

Key Themes

• Purāṇic sacred geography
• Mountain as liminal refuge
• Presence of Siddhas in wilderness caves

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Malaya mountain significant in Purāṇic geography?

Malaya is a celebrated southern mountain associated with coolness, dense forests, and especially sandalwood. It often appears as a marker of the southern quarter and as a habitat of Siddhas and other non-human beings.

What is conveyed by ‘siddhādhyuṣitakandaram’ (caves inhabited by Siddhas)?

It frames the mountain as a spiritually charged landscape: Siddhas are perfected beings who dwell in remote places. Their presence signals austerity, hidden power, and a terrain not fully accessible to ordinary humans.

Does the description serve a narrative function beyond scenery?

Yes. After defeat, the Asuras move into a dense, potent wilderness—suggesting concealment, regrouping, and entry into a region where extraordinary beings (Siddhas, powerful fauna) shape the atmosphere and potential outcomes.