Vamana Purana — Shukra's Samjivani, Shloka 98

Shukra’s Saṃjīvanī, Shiva’s Containment of the Asuras, and Indra’s Recovery of Power

Devanagari script

प्रावर्तत महायुद्धं प्रमथासुरयोरथ ततो ऽमरगणश्रेष्ठो विष्णुश्चक्रगदाधरः

Transliteration

prāvartata mahāyuddhaṃ pramathāsurayoratha tato 'maragaṇaśreṣṭho viṣṇuścakragadādharaḥ

Translation

Then a great battle commenced between the Pramathas and the Asuras. Thereupon Viṣṇu, foremost among the hosts of the immortals, bearing the discus and the mace, (entered the fray).

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing events to the listening sage(s) (exact interlocutors not specified in input).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Shiva (implied via Pramathas)

Key Themes

• Deva–Asura conflict
• Shaiva–Vaishnava cooperation (Pramathas with Viṣṇu)
• Divine intervention in cosmic battle

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who are the Pramathas, and why are they fighting Asuras?

Pramathas are Śiva’s gaṇas—fierce attendant beings who execute Śiva’s will. In Andhaka-related battle cycles, they commonly oppose Asuras aligned with adharma, forming Śiva’s frontline forces.

Why is Viṣṇu called ‘foremost among the immortals’ here?

The epithet amaragaṇaśreṣṭha underscores Viṣṇu’s preeminence among the devas as cosmic sustainer and protector, especially when the balance of dharma requires decisive intervention.

Does this verse indicate a specific avatāra like Vāmana or Trivikrama?

No. The markers here are weapons (cakra and gadā), presenting Viṣṇu in his standard martial iconography rather than the Vāmana/Trivikrama manifestation.