Vamana Purana — Ritadhvaja Aids Galava, Shloka 15
Ritadhvaja’s Aid to Galava and Andhaka’s Infatuation with Gauri
नारद उवाच एवं निरस्ते महिषे तारके च महासुरे हिरण्याक्षसुतो धीमान् किमचेष्टत वै पुनः
nārada uvāca evaṃ niraste mahiṣe tārake ca mahāsure hiraṇyākṣasuto dhīmān kimaceṣṭata vai punaḥ
நாரதர் கூறினார்—இவ்வாறு மகாசுரர்களான மகிஷனும் தாரகனும் அழிந்தபின், ஹிரண்யாக்ஷனின் புத்திமான் மகன் அதன் பின் என்ன செய்தான்?
{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
By citing well-known demon figures, Nārada anchors the chronology: the narrative has reached a post-conflict phase. The question functions as a hinge, moving from concluded slayings to the next antagonist or political development in the asura line.
The verse identifies him genealogically rather than by personal name, a common Purāṇic technique to foreground dynastic continuity. The epithet dhīmān suggests strategic intelligence—preparing the audience for a calculated response rather than a merely impulsive retaliation.
In Purāṇic battle contexts nirasta commonly conveys ‘destroyed/slain/removed from the field.’ While it can mean ‘repelled’ in other genres, here the pairing with mahāsura names strongly implies decisive destruction.