Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Coronation, Shloka 22

Andhaka’s Coronation, Boons from Shiva, and the Daiva–Asura War (Vahana Catalogues)

Devanagari script

सारङ्गधिष्ठिता ब्रह्मन् मरुतो घोरदर्शनाः सुकारूढाश्च कवयो गन्धर्वाश्च पदातिनः

Transliteration

sāraṅgadhiṣṭhitā brahman maruto ghoradarśanāḥ sukārūḍhāśca kavayo gandharvāśca padātinaḥ

Translation

О брахман, маруты восседают на сарангах и кажутся грозными на вид. Кави ездят верхом на попугаях, а гандхарвы шествуют пешими.

Word by Word

• sāraṅga-dhiṣṭhitāḥ: seated on deer (antelope-mounted)
• sāraṅga-dhiṣṭhitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāraṅga + dhiṣṭhita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु with adhi- prefix, past participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘अधिष्ठित/धिष्ठित’ = seated/placed; तत्पुरुष — ‘सारङ्गे अधिष्ठिताः’ (seated on deer/antelope)

• brahman: O Brahman (O sage)
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (address to a sage/priest)

• marutaḥ: the Maruts
• marutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ghora-darśanāḥ: terrible-looking
• ghora-darśanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘घोरं दर्शनं येषाम्’ (having a terrible appearance)

• su-kārūḍhāḥ: well-mounted
• su-kārūḍhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + kārūḍha (कृदन्त; √ruh धातु with ā-, past participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘आरूढ’ = mounted; अव्ययीभाव — ‘सु’ (well) + ‘आरूढ’ (well-mounted)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• kavayaḥ: sages, poets
• kavayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• gandharvāḥ: Gandharvas
• gandharvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• padātinaḥ: foot-soldiers, infantry
• padātinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padātin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पद’ (foot) + ‘आतिन्/आतिन्’ (going) as lexical stem padātin = foot-soldier

Speakers

• Narrative frame not explicit in the given verses; commonly in Vāmana Purāṇa: Pulastya → Nārada (uncertain here).

Primary Deities

• Maruts
• Kavis
• Gandharvas

Key Themes

• Deva cosmology
• Iconography (vāhana/vehicles)
• Martial/retinue description

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse highlights differentiated modes of power: the Maruts embody awe-inspiring force, while Gandharvas are portrayed without mounts, suggesting that splendor can be expressed through presence and art rather than martial conveyance.

How does this fit the Pañcalakṣaṇa?

Again, it aligns best with Sarga-oriented cosmography (descriptive ordering of divine groups and their attributes). It does not directly advance the Vāmana-Bali ethic, but builds the cosmic stage on which such narratives unfold.

What is the symbolic significance?

Maruts’ fearsome form matches storm imagery. Parrot-mounts for ‘Kavis’ can suggest eloquence and transmitted speech (śruti/poetic utterance). Gandharvas ‘on foot’ may underscore their closeness to human performance spaces—song and ritual gatherings.