Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Defeat & Redemption, Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

समादायान्धकं हस्ते सनन्दिः शैलमभ्यगात् द्वाभ्यां वर्षसहस्राभ्यां पुनरागाद्वरो गृह्म्

Transliteration

samādāyāndhakaṃ haste sanandiḥ śailamabhyagāt dvābhyāṃ varṣasahasrābhyāṃ punarāgādvaro gṛhm

Translation

สนันทิอุ้มอันธกะไว้ในมือแล้วไปยังภูเขา ครั้นล่วงไปสองพันปี บุรุษผู้ประเสริฐนั้นจึงกลับสู่เรือนอีกครั้ง

Speakers

• Narratorial voice continuing the Andhaka narrative; direct speech not indicated in this śloka.

Primary Deities

• Shiva (implied through Sanandī’s affiliation)

Key Themes

• Subjugation of Andhaka
• Divine time-scale (thousands of years)
• Movement between sacred locales (abode ↔ mountain)
• Śaiva gaṇa agency

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is Sanandī in this context?

Sanandī is presented as a powerful Śaiva attendant (gaṇa-type figure) entrusted with handling Andhaka. Purāṇas often assign such tasks to Śiva’s retinue to emphasize the organized, hierarchical power of the Śaiva cosmos.

What is the significance of ‘two thousand years’ here?

It signals Purāṇic ‘mythic time,’ where actions unfold on vast scales. Such durations magnify the gravity of the event (custody, penance, confinement, or a prolonged campaign) rather than serving as a literal historical chronology.

Is the ‘mountain’ identifiable as a known sacred mountain?

Not from this verse alone. The text uses the generic śaila; identification would require nearby verses or a parallel recension that supplies a proper name (e.g., Kailāsa, Mandara, etc.).