Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

स त्वं मुहूर्तमात्रं मामत्रैवं प्रतिपालय निवेद्य गुरवे यावदिहागच्छाम्यहं फलम्

Transliteration

sa tvaṃ muhūrtamātraṃ māmatraivaṃ pratipālaya nivedya gurave yāvadihāgacchāmyahaṃ phalam

Translation

svāhākāra namastubhyaṃ hantakāra namo 'stu te sarvākāra nirākāra vedākāra namo 'stu te

Speakers

• Same speaker addressing the rākṣasa (requesting a brief reprieve/assistance)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

Key Themes

• Truthfulness/keeping one’s word (implied by promise to return)
• Guru-sevā
• Time-unit (muhūrta) in ritual/narrative framing
• Negotiation with a liminal being (rākṣasa)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the narrative function of specifying ‘muhūrta-mātra’?

It sets a precise, bounded interval that tests sincerity and establishes a dharmic contract: the speaker asks for a short, measurable reprieve, implying confidence in returning and in the moral force of a promise.

Is ‘pratipālaya’ here physical protection or moral ‘keeping watch’?

Primarily physical/guardianship—‘stand by me here’—but in Purāṇic dialogue it also carries the sense of ‘do not obstruct; allow the vow/act to be completed,’ which is a moral concession by the rākṣasa.

How does guru-offering relate to tīrtha-mahātmya literature?

Tīrtha sections often integrate dharma exempla: pilgrimage merit is amplified when paired with guru-bhakti, restraint, and truthful conduct; the sacred place becomes the stage where these virtues are demonstrated.