Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 14

Akhaṇḍa-Ekādaśī Vrata and the Vaiṣṇava Protective Hymn; Prelude to the Kātyāyanī–Mahiṣāsura Narrative

Devanagari script

रसानि स्वादुकट्वम्लकषायलवणानि च तिक्तानि च निवेद्यानि तान्यखण्डानि यानि हि

Transliteration

rasāni svādukaṭvamlakaṣāyalavaṇāni ca tiktāni ca nivedyāni tānyakhaṇḍāni yāni hi

Translation

One should offer (as naivedya) the tastes—sweet, pungent, sour, astringent, salty, and bitter—indeed, those offerings should be unbroken/whole.

Word by Word

• रसानि: tastes/juices
• रसानि: कर्म/विषय (Items)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• स्वादु-कटु-अम्ल-कषाय-लवणानि: sweet, pungent, sour, astringent, and salty
• स्वादु-कटु-अम्ल-कषाय-लवणानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक) + कटु (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + कषाय (प्रातिपदिक) + लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (enumerative); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (agreeing with रसानि)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• तिक्तानि: bitter
• तिक्तानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (agreeing with रसानि)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• निवेद्यानि: to be offered (as oblations)
• निवेद्यानि: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + विद्/वेद् (धातु) + निवेद्य (कृदन्त/ण्यत्)
• Form: ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/नीयत् sense: 'to be offered'); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• तानि: those
• तानि: अनुवृत्ति/विषय (those items)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• अखण्डानि: unbroken/whole
• अखण्डानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• यानि: which
• यानि: सम्बन्ध/अनुवृत्ति (relative: which)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (indeed/for)

Speakers

• Dialogue frame not specified in the provided excerpt (commonly Pulastya → Nārada in this Purāṇa)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Keśava)

Key Themes

• Vaishnavism
• Bhakti
• Vrata/Rituals
• Naivedya (food offering)
• Dharma (proper procedure)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Devotion is taught as completeness: offering all six tastes implies offering the totality of lived experience—pleasant and unpleasant—back to the divine, cultivating gratitude and equanimity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Like the prior verse, it is primarily dharma/ācāra material (ritual prescription). It does not directly narrate cosmogony or dynastic history, but supports purāṇic instruction on right practice.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ṣaḍrasa scheme symbolizes wholeness and balance. The instruction ‘akhaṇḍa’ underscores integrity—offerings should be complete and undefiled, mirroring the devotee’s intent (saṅkalpa) as undivided.