Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Coronation, Shloka 17

Andhaka’s Coronation, Boons from Shiva, and the Daiva–Asura War (Vahana Catalogues)

Devanagari script

रुद्रकर्ममलोद्भूतः श्यामो जलधिसंज्ञकः शिशुमारो दिव्यगतिः वाहनं वरुणस्य च

Transliteration

rudrakarmamalodbhūtaḥ śyāmo jaladhisaṃjñakaḥ śiśumāro divyagatiḥ vāhanaṃ varuṇasya ca

Translation

由鲁陀罗行事之垢秽（mala）所生，有一黝暗者名为“阇罗提”（Jaladhi，意为大海）。而具神圣行行之“尸首摩罗”（śiśumāra），亦为伐楼那（Varuṇa）之乘具（vāhana）。

Word by Word

• रुद्र-कर्म-मल-उद्भूतः: arisen from the impurity of Rudra’s act
• रुद्र-कर्म-मल-उद्भूतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भूत (कृदन्त; उत्+√भू (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘उद्भूत’ = arisen; समासार्थः: रुद्रस्य कर्मणः मलात् उद्भूतः (ablative sense)

• श्यामः: dark/blue-black
• श्यामः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जलधि-संज्ञकः: named ‘Jaladhi’
• जलधि-संज्ञकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जलधि (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘जलधि’ इति संज्ञा यस्य (named ‘Jaladhi’)

• शिशुमारः: śiśumāra (porpoise/dolphin-like creature)
• शिशुमारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिव्यगतिः: of divine movement
• दिव्यगतिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (one whose movement is divine)

• वाहनम्: (is) the mount/vehicle
• वाहनम्: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• वरुणस्य: of Varuṇa
• वरुणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

Speakers

• Not specified in input (often framed as Pulastya → Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa’s dialogue style)

Primary Deities

• Rudra (Śiva)
• Varuṇa

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Purāṇic cosmology
• Deity iconography (vāhana lists)
• Non-sectarian integration (Rudra-linked beings serving other devas)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse presents a Purāṇic motif where even ‘mala’ (residual impurity) from a divine principle becomes ordered within cosmic function—suggesting that nothing in creation is outside dharma’s organization, and that all beings can be assigned a role in sustaining the world.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily aligns with Sarga (creation/emanation motifs) and ancillary cosmological cataloguing typical of Purāṇic narration (lists of beings, their origins, and functions).

What is the symbolic significance?

Linking a Rudra-origin entity with Varuṇa’s mount integrates Śaiva power into the broader deva-order, reflecting the text’s harmonizing tendency: Rudra’s sphere is not isolated but participates in the cosmic administration represented by Varuṇa.