Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 17

The Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu (Vishnu-Pañjara) and the Redemption of a Rakshasa

Devanagari script

चित्तवृत्तिहरा ये च ये जनाः स्मृतीहारकाः बलौजसां च हर्तारश्छायाविध्वंसकाश्च ये

Transliteration

cittavṛttiharā ye ca ye janāḥ smṛtīhārakāḥ balaujasāṃ ca hartāraśchāyāvidhvaṃsakāśca ye

Translation

{"scene_description": "Kūṣmāṇḍa spirits—round-bellied, grotesque, smoky—attempt to snatch offerings and dim a devotee’s auspicious marks; a blazing Sudarśana wheel emits a sonic shockwave that scatters them.", "primary_figures": ["Devotee", "Kūṣmāṇḍas", "Sudarśana-cakra"], "setting": "Small shrine near river; offerings and ritual items; night turning to dawn as spirits flee.", "color_palette": ["fiery gold", "black", "saffron", "turquoise", "white"], "tanjore_prompt": "Tanjore, central Sudarśana chakra with gold leaf flames, kūṣmāṇḍa demons recoiling at edges, devotee protected under ornate prabhāvali, rich reds and blues, high contrast divine radiance.", "pahari_prompt": "Pahari miniature, whimsical yet ominous spirits in soft outlines, luminous chakra in sky, devotee near river altar, dawn hues, delicate brushwork showing dispersal of darkness.", "kerala_mural_prompt": "Kerala mural, stylized kūṣmāṇḍas with exaggerated features, bold chakra mandala, strong ocVamana Purana,60,5,VamP 60.5,vareṇya viṣṇo vaikuṇṭha namaste puruṣottama namo jayanta vijaya jayānanta parājita,वरेण्य विष्णो वैकुण्ठ नमस्ते पुरुषोत्तम नमो जयन्त विजय जयानन्त पराजित,Saromahatmya (Sarasvati–Kurukshetra Tirtha Cycle),Stuti (Hymn of Praise),Adhyaya 60 — Stuti of Vishnu–Mahadeva (Names and Epithets) at the Tirtha context (Sarasvati region),60.5,vareṇya viṣṇo vaikuṇṭha namaste puruṣottama namo jayanta vijaya jayānanta parājita,vareṇya viṣṇo vaikuṇṭha namaste puruṣottama namo jayanta vijaya jayānanta parājita,Salutations to you

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the chapter (likely a rishi’s instruction to a listener; exact interlocutors not provided in input)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Vasudeva

Key Themes

• Raksha (protection) through divine remembrance
• Mental health and spiritual well-being
• Apotropaic (evil-averting) prayer
• Power of Vishnu’s protective agency

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who are the ‘cittavṛttiharāḥ’ and ‘smṛtihārakāḥ’ in Purāṇic idiom?

They denote harmful forces—often conceived as grahas, bhūtas, or malevolent beings—that disturb mental steadiness and cause forgetfulness or confusion. The verse frames these as ‘stealers’ of inner faculties rather than as ordinary human opponents.

What does ‘chāyā’ mean here beyond the literal ‘shadow’?

While literally ‘shadow,’ in many ritual and Purāṇic contexts chāyā can signify a person’s protective presence, auspiciousness, or subtle vitality. ‘Chāyā-vidhvaṃsaka’ thus points to forces believed to erode well-being, luck, or protective aura.

Why are strength (bala) and ojas paired?

Bala is physical/functional strength, while ojas is the refined vital essence associated with immunity, radiance, and resilience. Pairing them covers both gross and subtle vitality that a protective prayer seeks to safeguard.