Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 46

Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Origin of Kapalin Rudra (Pulastya–Narada Dialogue)

Devanagari script

त्रिशूलाभिहतान्मार्गात् तिस्रो धारा विनिर्ययुः एका गगनमाक्रम्य स्थिता ताराभिमम्डिता

Transliteration

triśūlābhihatānmārgāt tisro dhārā viniryayuḥ ekā gaganamākramya sthitā tārābhimamḍitā

Translation

From the track (or channel) struck by the trident, three streams issued forth. One rose up into the sky and remained there, adorned with stars.

Word by Word

• त्रिशूलाभिहतान्: from (those) struck by the trident
• त्रिशूलाभिहतान्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिशूल + अभि + हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘अभिहत’; पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), बहुवचन; ‘from those struck by the trident’ (पञ्चमी-अपादानार्थ)

• मार्गात्: from the path/track
• मार्गात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• धाराः: streams
• धाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• विनिर्ययुः: came forth/issued out
• विनिर्ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + निर् + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• एका: one (of them)
• एका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गगनम्: the sky
• गगनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आक्रम्य: having ascended
• आक्रम्य: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + क्रम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक—‘having ascended/stepped into’

• स्थिता: stood/remained
• स्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘स्थित’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ताराभिमण्डिता: adorned with stars
• ताराभिमण्डिता: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारा + अभि + मण्डित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-सदृश समास: ताराभिः मण्डिता (instrumental sense); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative frame not explicit in the provided verses (often Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa); speaker unspecified here

Primary Deities

• Śiva/Rudra

Key Themes

• Śaivism
• Cosmogonic/etiological myth (origin of beings/streams)
• Divine weapon potency
• Manifestation from Rudra

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes that divine agency can generate multiple orders of reality from a single act—terrestrial and celestial—suggesting a layered cosmos where the sacred is not confined to earth.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Best classified under sarga/etiological narration (creation-like account of streams and subsequent beings), rather than vamśānucarita; it functions as an origin explanation within the narrative.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘three streams’ can be read as a tripartite unfolding of Rudra’s power; the stream that becomes star-adorned indicates transmutation from physical flow to astral presence (a sacralization of the cosmos).