Vamana Purana — Merit of Shravana Dvadashi, Shloka 35

The Merit of Śravaṇa-Dvādaśī and the Liberation of a Preta through Gayā Piṇḍa-Rites

Devanagari script

विजित्य हयमेधान् वै यथाकामगुणन्विनतान् आहूयन्तां च निधयस्त्वाज्ञाप्यनातां च गुह्यकाः

Transliteration

vijitya hayamedhān vai yathākāmaguṇanvinatān āhūyantāṃ ca nidhayastvājñāpyanātāṃ ca guhyakāḥ

Translation

“Having won (secured) the horse-sacrifices—endowed with whatever qualities are desired—let the treasures be summoned, and let the Guhyakas also be commanded.”

Speakers

• Unspecified in the excerpt; same speaker continuing instructions to attendants/retinue.

Primary Deities

• Kubera
• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Ritual economy and patronage
• Wealth as support for yajña and dāna
• Mythic wealth-guardians (Guhyakas/Yakṣas)
• Royal authority expressed through command

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why are ‘nidhis’ (treasures) and ‘Guhyakas’ mentioned in a yajña context?

Large śrauta rites require extensive material support—fees to priests (dakṣiṇā), gifts (dāna), and provisions. Purāṇic idiom often personifies wealth through nidhis and their guardians (Guhyakas), indicating that prosperity itself is being marshaled for dharmic expenditure.

Who are the Guhyakas in Purāṇic tradition?

Guhyakas are a class of semi-divine beings, frequently grouped with Yakṣas and connected to Kubera’s retinue. They are portrayed as custodians of hidden wealth and as agents who can be summoned or directed by powerful kings or by divine ordinance.

What does ‘vijitya hayamedhān’ mean—conquering sacrifices?

The phrase is idiomatic: it can mean ‘to accomplish/secure’ the Aśvamedha enterprise (including its political dimension of asserting sovereignty). It may also hint at overcoming obstacles to the rite—logistical, rival, or ritual—so the sacrifice proceeds successfully.