Vamana Purana — Shukra's Samjivani, Shloka 91

Shukra’s Saṃjīvanī, Shiva’s Containment of the Asuras, and Indra’s Recovery of Power

Devanagari script

अपयानं तदा चक्रे गिरिराजसुता मुने देव्याश्चिन्तितमाज्ञाय सुन्दं त्यक्त्वान्धको ऽसुरः

Transliteration

apayānaṃ tadā cakre girirājasutā mune devyāścintitamājñāya sundaṃ tyaktvāndhako 'suraḥ

Translation

அப்போது, ஓ முனிவரே, கிரிராஜசுதை (பார்வதி) பின்வாங்கினாள். தேவியின் எண்ணத்தை அறிந்து, அசுரன் அந்தகன் சுந்தனை விட்டுவிட்டு அகன்றான்.

Speakers

• Narrator to the listener addressed as ‘mune’

Primary Deities

• Parvati (Devī)
• Shiva (implied by context)

Key Themes

• Devī’s tactical movement
• Reading divine intention (cintita)
• Andhaka episode progression
• Asuric alliances and abandonment

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Pārvatī called ‘Girirājasutā’ here?

The epithet anchors her identity in the well-known mythic genealogy—daughter of Himālaya—while also evoking the mountain-world setting typical of Śaiva narratives. It functions as a compact marker of Devī’s stature and legitimacy.

What does ‘apayāna’ (withdrawal) imply in this context?

It suggests a deliberate tactical retreat rather than fear—part of a strategy to expose or manage the demon’s approach. The next clause confirms this: Andhaka acts after grasping ‘devyāś cintitam’ (the goddess’s intention).

Who is ‘Sunda’ and why does Andhaka abandon him?

Sunda is a named Asura figure (the name appears across Purāṇic traditions). Here it indicates an asuric association or companion. Andhaka’s abandonment signals a shift in plan upon realizing the goddess’s intent—highlighting the instability of demonic alliances and the pressure of divine strategy.