Vamana Purana — Chanda & Munda Discover Katyayani, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तं वीक्ष्याथ देवा ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः ऊचुर्वाक्यं महादेवीं वर्म ह्याबन्ध चाम्बिके

Transliteration

tamāpatantaṃ vīkṣyātha devā brahmapurogamāḥ ūcurvākyaṃ mahādevīṃ varma hyābandha cāmbike

Translation

Seeing him rushing down/charging, the gods—headed by Brahmā—addressed Mahādevī: “O Ambikā, fasten (upon us) the armor (of protection).”

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आपतन्तम्: rushing/falling upon (them)
• आपतन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-पत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present Active Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (तम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः: having Brahmā in front; led by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (ब्रह्मा पुरोगमः येषाम्)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाक्यम्: a statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• महादेवीम्: the great goddess
• महादेवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती देवी)

• वर्म: armor
• वर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु (indeed/for)

• आबन्ध: bind on; fasten
• आबन्ध: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अम्बिके: O Ambikā
• अम्बिके: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speakers

• Devas (headed by Brahmā) addressing Mahādevī/Ambikā

Primary Deities

• Mahādevī (Durgā/Ambikā)
• Brahmā
• Devas

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Protection/Apotropaic Mantras
• Śākta elements
• Sectarian Harmony (via later Viṣṇu-pañjara)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even the devas, despite power and status, acknowledge vulnerability and seek refuge in divine protection. The ethical lesson is humility and the proper turning toward dharmic refuge (śaraṇāgati) rather than pride in one’s own strength.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This aligns best with Vamśānucarita/Carita-style narrative material (accounts of divine conflicts and interventions). It is not sarga/pratisarga; it functions as episode-based theology embedded in the Purāṇic storyline.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘armor’ (varma/kavaca) symbolizes the inner safeguarding of dharma—protective discipline, mantra, and divine grace—requested at moments when chaos (daityic aggression) threatens cosmic order.