Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Defeat & Redemption, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

सहसा स महातेजा विरथस्त्यज्य कार्मुकम् गदामादाय बलवानभिदुद्राव दैवतान्

Transliteration

sahasā sa mahātejā virathastyajya kārmukam gadāmādāya balavānabhidudrāva daivatān

Translation

திடீரென அந்த மகாதேஜஸ்வி தேரற்றவனாய் வில்லைக் கைவிட்டு, கதையை எடுத்துக் கொண்டு, வலிமையுடன் தேவர்களை நோக்கி நேரே பாய்ந்தான்।

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle scene; no direct speech in this verse.

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Battle dynamics and escalation
• Daitya valor and aggression
• Shift of weaponry (bow to mace)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is the “mighty, radiant one” charging the gods?

Within Adhyāya 44’s battle context (leading into an address to Mahādeva in the next verse), the phrase points to the Daitya leader (daityendra) engaged in combat against the Devas.

Why is the detail “viratha” (chariotless) important?

It marks a turning point in the combat: the warrior continues fighting even after losing or abandoning his chariot, emphasizing ferocity and personal prowess rather than reliance on battlefield apparatus.

What does switching from bow to mace signify in Purāṇic battle idiom?

It often signals closing distance and intensifying violence—moving from ranged combat (kārmuka) to direct, crushing engagement (gadā), typically preceding a decisive clash.