Vamana Purana — Shiva's Kedara Tirtha, Shloka 41

Shiva’s Kedara-Tirtha and the Rise of Mura: From Shaiva Pilgrimage to Vaishnava Theology

Devanagari script

कालिन्दाया दक्षिमे कूले निवेश्य स्वपुरं स्थितः मुरुश्चापि महाभोगान् बुभुजे स्वर्गसंस्थितः

Transliteration

kālindāyā dakṣime kūle niveśya svapuraṃ sthitaḥ muruścāpi mahābhogān bubhuje svargasaṃsthitaḥ

Translation

เขาได้ตั้งนครของตนไว้ ณ ฝั่งใต้แห่งกาลินที (ยมุนา) แล้วพำนักอยู่ที่นั่น; และมุรุก็เสวยมหาสุขดุจประหนึ่งตั้งมั่นอยู่ในสวรรค์

Word by Word

• kālindāyāḥ: of Kāлиндī (Yamunā)
• kālindāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālindī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• dakṣiṇe: on the southern
• dakṣiṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with kūle

• kūle: bank/shore
• kūle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• niveśya: having established/settled
• niveśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-viś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having settled/placed’

• sva-puram: his own city
• sva-puram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः—‘स्वं पुरम्’

• sthitaḥ: stayed/was situated
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; used predicatively ‘was staying/stood’

• muruḥ: Muru (the demon)
• muruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• api: also/indeed
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) expressing addition/emphasis

• mahā-bhogān: great enjoyments/luxuries
• mahā-bhogān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; कर्मधारयः—‘महान्तः भोगाः’

• bubhuje: enjoyed
• bubhuje: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• svarga-saṃsthitaḥ: dwelling in heaven
• svarga-saṃsthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthita (कृदन्त from sam-sthā धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘स्वर्गे संस्थितः’

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic voice) to the listening sage/audience (implicit)

Primary Deities

• Muru
• Indra (contextual)

Key Themes

• Localization of myth on a river landscape
• Foundation of a settlement
• Asuric prosperity
• Heaven-like enjoyment on earth

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is the Kālindī (Yamunā) important in this passage?

The Vāmana Purāṇa frequently anchors mythic events in identifiable landscapes. Naming Kālindī situates the conflict within North Indian sacred geography and makes the narrative legible as a tirtha-adjacent memory-map.

Does ‘svargasaṃsthitaḥ’ mean Muru literally went to heaven?

No. It is a simile-like characterization: Muru’s earthly enjoyment and security are described as ‘heavenly,’ underscoring the inversion of order—an asura flourishing while Indra is displaced.

Is the ‘svapura’ a known city on the Yamunā?

The verse itself does not provide a toponym. Identification would require adjacent verses or parallel recensions; as given, it should be cataloged as an unnamed settlement founded on the southern bank of the Yamunā.