Vamana Purana — Chanda & Munda Discover Katyayani, Shloka 21

Chanda and Munda Discover Katyayani; Mahishasura’s Proposal and the Vishnu-Panjara Protection

Devanagari script

ततस्तु दैत्यो महिषासुरेण संप्रेषितो दानवयूथपालः मयस्य पुत्रो रिपुसैन्यमर्दी स दुन्दुभिर्दुन्दुभिनिःखनस्तु

Transliteration

tatastu daityo mahiṣāsureṇa saṃpreṣito dānavayūthapālaḥ mayasya putro ripusainyamardī sa dundubhirdundubhiniḥkhanastu

Translation

Then a Daitya leader of Dānava troops, sent by Mahiṣāsura—Dundubhi, the son of Maya, a crusher of enemy armies and a blower/beater of the war-drum—(set out).

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tu: indeed, then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

• daityaḥ: a Daitya (demon)
• daityaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• mahiṣa-asureṇa: by Mahiṣāsura
• mahiṣa-asureṇa: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya/proper name 'Mahiṣāsura'; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saṃ-preṣitaḥ: sent, dispatched
• saṃ-preṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate adjective of daityaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√preṣ (प्रेष्, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'sent/commissioned'

• dānava-yūtha-pālaḥ: leader of a troop of Dānavas
• dānava-yūtha-pālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + yūtha (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'dānavānām yūthasya pālaḥ'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular (apposition to daityaḥ)

• mayasya: of Maya
• mayasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ripu-sainya-mardī: crusher of the enemy army
• ripu-sainya-mardī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक) + mardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'ripūṇāṃ sainyam mardayati' (agent-noun); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• dundubhiḥ: Dundubhi (name)
• dundubhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (renaming/apposition to saḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (proper name)

• dundubhi-niḥkhanaḥ: Dundubhi-niḥkhana (epithet/name)
• dundubhi-niḥkhanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥkhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'dundubheḥ niḥkhanaḥ' (one who digs out/strikes like a drum; epithet); Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

Speakers

• Narratorial description (outer frame likely Pulastya → Nārada
• but not explicit in the verse)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Envoy/messenger protocol
• Asura polity and command structure

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse highlights organized power: adharma is not merely chaotic but institutionally structured (troop-leaders, envoys). This prepares the reader for the ethical contrast between coercive diplomacy (threat-backed messaging) and dharmic restraint.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It aligns with Vamśānucarita/Carita narration—detailing notable figures (Mahiṣāsura, Maya’s son) and their roles in episodic history rather than creation/re-creation cycles.

What is the symbolic significance?

Naming Maya (archetypal master of illusion/engineering) situates the conflict in a field where might is allied with stratagem. The ‘dundubhi’ epithet symbolizes proclamation of dominance—sound as psychological weapon preceding direct combat.