Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Defeat & Redemption, Shloka 14

Andhaka’s Defeat, the Bhairava Manifestation, and His Redemption as Bhṛṅgī Gaṇapati

Devanagari script

इतेयवमुक्ताः प्रमथा वासुदेवेन सामराः चक्रुर्वेगं सहेन्द्रेण समं चक्रधरेण च

Transliteration

iteyavamuktāḥ pramathā vāsudevena sāmarāḥ cakrurvegaṃ sahendreṇa samaṃ cakradhareṇa ca

Translation

[{"question": "Why is the epithet ‘meghābhāḥ’ (cloud-hued) used for the horses?", "answer": "It is a conventional heroic simile: cloud-dark horses suggest speed, mass, and ominous force, heightening the battlefield’s intensity and the scale of Janārdana’s feat."}, {"question": "What does ‘nimiṣāntaramātreṇa’ convey in Purāṇic battle narration?", "answer": "It is a stock marker of superhuman/divine capability—actions occur faster than ordinary perception, underscoring that the agent is not merely heroic but divine."}, {"question": "Does this verse contribute to Vāmana Purāṇa’s geographical agenda?", "answer": "Not directly. This is a martial episode within the Andhaka cycle; unlike tīrtha-māhātmya passages, it contains no place-names or pilgrimage markers."}]

Speakers

• Narrator voice describing the response of the Pramathas and devas to the preceding instruction.

Primary Deities

• Vāsudeva (Viṣṇu)
• Indra
• Śiva (via Pramatha hosts)

Key Themes

• Shaiva–Vaishnava cooperation in cosmic order
• Collective divine assault against adharma
• Martial momentum (vega) and coordinated action

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who are the Pramathas, and why are they prominent in an Andhaka episode?

Pramathas are Śiva’s attendant gaṇas, often depicted as fierce, irregular troops. In Andhaka-related narratives, they function as Śiva’s battlefield host, executing tactical strikes and supporting the devas.

What is the significance of naming Viṣṇu as ‘Vāsudeva’ and ‘Cakradhara’ here?

‘Vāsudeva’ identifies Viṣṇu in a personal, heroic register, while ‘Cakradhara’ highlights his signature weapon (Sudarśana). Together they mark Viṣṇu’s active martial participation rather than a distant cosmic role.

Does this verse reflect a broader purāṇic theme beyond the immediate battle?

Yes: it exemplifies Shaiva–Vaishnava unity—Śiva’s gaṇas (Pramathas) and Viṣṇu (Cakradhara) acting in concert with Indra and the devas to restore dharma.