Vamana Purana — Shukra's Samjivani, Shloka 22

Shukra’s Saṃjīvanī, Shiva’s Containment of the Asuras, and Indra’s Recovery of Power

Devanagari script

पितामहोक्तं वचनं श्रुत्वा देवाः सवासवाः समापतन्त वेगेन शिवसैन्यमथाम्बरात्

Transliteration

pitāmahoktaṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā devāḥ savāsavāḥ samāpatanta vegena śivasainyamathāmbarāt

Translation

听闻毗多摩诃（梵天Brahmā）之言后，诸天连同婆娑婆（Vāsava，即因陀罗Indra）迅疾自空中俯冲而下，奔向湿婆的军阵。

Speakers

• Narrator voice (describing the Devas’ response) following Brahmā’s instruction.

Primary Deities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Indra (Vāsava)
• Śiva

Key Themes

• Obedience to Brahmā’s command
• Heaven-to-battlefield descent motif
• Divine militarization
• Support of Śiva’s forces

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is ‘Vāsava’ and why is he singled out?

Vāsava is Indra, chief of the Devas. Purāṇic diction often highlights him as the leader even when ‘the gods’ are mentioned collectively, underscoring command structure and the Devas’ martial role.

What is the narrative function of ‘descending from the sky’?

It marks divine intervention as visibly cosmic: the Devas move from svarga/upper realms into the conflict zone, signaling escalation and legitimizing Śiva’s cause through pan-divine support.

Is ‘Śiva-sainya’ only Śiva’s gaṇas?

Primarily it denotes Śiva’s gaṇas/pramathas, but in battle contexts it can include allied divine beings and attendants who fight under Śiva’s banner.