Vamana Purana — Vishnu Slays Kalanemi, Shloka 35

The Deva-Asura War

Devanagari script

ते विष्णुना हन्यमानाः पतत्त्रिभिरयोमुखैः दैतेयाः शरणं जग्मुः कालनेमिं महासुराम्

Transliteration

te viṣṇunā hanyamānāḥ patattribhirayomukhaiḥ daiteyāḥ śaraṇaṃ jagmuḥ kālanemiṃ mahāsurām

Translation

Struck down by Viṣṇu with iron-pointed, winged arrows, those Daiteyas went for refuge to Kālanemi, the great Asura.

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic sage) to Nārada.

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu (Hari)

Key Themes

• Asuras’ retreat and seeking protection
• Hierarchy among Asuras (Kālanemi as refuge/leader)
• Weapon imagery (iron-tipped, feathered arrows)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is Kālanemi in Purāṇic tradition, and why do the Daityas flee to him?

Kālanemi is portrayed across Purāṇic corpora as a powerful Asura figure (often a strategist or leader). Here he functions as a rallying refuge—indicating an Asura command structure where lesser Daityas regroup under a major champion when routed.

What is the significance of describing arrows as ‘patattri’ and ‘ayo-mukha’?

‘Patattri’ (winged/feathered) highlights speed and accuracy; ‘ayo-mukha’ (iron-pointed) emphasizes lethality and inevitability. Together they intensify the depiction of Viṣṇu’s overwhelming martial efficacy.

Is there any geographic/tīrtha layer embedded in this verse?

Not in this śloka. It is a battlefield transition marker—moving the plot from open combat to the Asuras’ regrouping under Kālanemi—without naming a specific sacred locale.