Vamana Purana — Indra's Penance & Aditi's Vow, Shloka 22

Indra’s Penance at the Great River and Aditi’s Solar Vow for Vishnu’s Descent

Devanagari script

ततो गदाधरः प्रीतो वासवं प्राह नारद गच्छ प्रीतो ऽस्मि भवतो मुक्तपापो ऽसि साम्प्रतम्

Transliteration

tato gadādharaḥ prīto vāsavaṃ prāha nārada gaccha prīto 'smi bhavato muktapāpo 'si sāmpratam

Translation

[{"question": "Who is the “best of the gods” (surottama) being surpassed here?", "answer": "In the Vāmana–Bali cycle, “surottama” typically points to Indra as the preeminent Deva-king; the line underscores that the obtained sovereignty exceeds Indra’s former dominion."}, {"question": "Why does the speaker call himself a “servant” (bhṛtya) while speaking of ruling the three worlds?", "answer": "The verse models royal humility: even when one holds (or grants) supreme power, one remains bound to duty, counsel, and service—either to the rightful ruler, to dharma, or (in the larger narrative) to the divine will that ultimately governs sovereignty."}, {"question": "Does this verse directly mention Vāmana or Trivikrama?", "answer": "No. The verse is framed as ethical-political instruction within the Vāmana–Bali narrative setting; the avatāra context is implicit rather than explicit in the wording."}]

Speakers

• Gadādhara (Vishnu) addressing Indra (Vāsava); the vocative ‘Nārada’ signals the broader narration/dialogue frame involving Nārada

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Gadādhara)
• Indra (Vāsava)
• Nārada (as interlocutor/frame)

Key Themes

• Divine grace (anugraha)
• Penance leading to purification
• Removal of pāpa (sin)
• Restoration of divine order

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Vishnu declare Indra ‘freed from sin’ (mukta-pāpa)?

The statement marks the fruition of tapas: sustained restraint and devotion culminate in purification, making Indra eligible for restoration/assistance in the larger divine narrative.

How should we understand the sudden address ‘Nārada’ within Vishnu’s speech?

It reflects Purāṇic framing: the story is embedded in a dialogue where Nārada is present as listener/questioner, so the narrator preserves that vocative even while reporting Vishnu’s words to Indra.

Does ‘gaccha’ imply dismissal or commissioning?

Typically commissioning: the deity’s satisfaction authorizes the devotee to proceed—often to resume rightful duties—now that the impediment of pāpa is removed.