Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Defeat & Redemption, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा स सर्वेश्वरमीशमव्ययं त्रैलोक्यनाथं वरदं वरेण्यम् सर्वैः सुराद्यैर्नतमीड्यमाद्यं ततो ऽन्धकः स्तोत्रमिदं चकार

Transliteration

jñātvā sa sarveśvaramīśamavyayaṃ trailokyanāthaṃ varadaṃ vareṇyam sarvaiḥ surādyairnatamīḍyamādyaṃ tato 'ndhakaḥ stotramidaṃ cakāra

Translation

அவரை எல்லோருக்கும் ஈசன், அழிவிலா இறைவன், மூவுலக நாதன், வரம் அளிப்பவன், தேர்ந்தெடுக்கத் தகுதியானவன்—தேவர்கள் முதலிய அனைவராலும் வணங்கப்படுபவன், போற்றத்தக்க ஆதிமூலன்—என்று அறிந்து அந்தகன் அப்போது இந்த ஸ்தோத்திரத்தை இயற்றினான்।

Speakers

• Narrator voice introducing Andhaka’s act of praise; Andhaka is about to speak to Śiva/Bhairava.

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Isha/Hara/Bhairava)

Key Themes

• Conversion through realization (jñāna)
• Supreme lordship across the three worlds
• Legitimization of stuti as a devotional response
• Divine accessibility as Varada (boon-giver)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the narrative function of this verse before the stotra?

It serves as a hinge: after purification and release from sin, Andhaka’s inner stance changes from hostility to recognition (jñātvā). The verse authorizes the hymn as a theologically valid response to encountering the supreme Lord.

Does ‘surādyaiḥ’ imply only devas?

Not strictly. The compound often includes devas plus other divine/celestial classes (gandharvas, siddhas, etc.). The point is universal reverence: the Lord is bowed to by all higher beings, not merely one faction.

Why emphasize ‘varada’ (boon-giver) in a context of punishment?

Purāṇic theology frequently pairs severity with grace: the same Lord who chastises to remove impurity is also the giver of boons once the devotee is corrected and aligned with dharma.