Vamana Purana — Jabali on the Banyan Tree, Shloka 74

Jabali Bound on the Banyan Tree and Nandayanti’s Appeal at Sri-Kantha on the Yamuna

Devanagari script

स चर्षिर्ज्ञानसंपन्नः श्रीकण्ठायतने ऽलिखत् श्लोकमेकं महाख्यानं तस्याश्च प्रियकाम्यया

Transliteration

sa carṣirjñānasaṃpannaḥ śrīkaṇṭhāyatane 'likhat ślokamekaṃ mahākhyānaṃ tasyāśca priyakāmyayā

Translation

And that sage, endowed with knowledge, in the sanctuary of Śrīkaṇṭha, composed (wrote) a single verse—a great sacred narrative—out of a wish to do what was dear to her (to fulfill her cherished desire).

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ऋषिः: sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ज्ञानसंपन्नः: endowed with knowledge
• ज्ञानसंपन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna-sampanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञान + संपन्न)

• श्रीकण्ठायतने: in the shrine/abode of Śrīkaṇṭha (Śiva)
• श्रीकण्ठायतने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīkaṇṭha-āyatana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (श्रीकण्ठस्य आयतनम्)

• अलिखत्: wrote
• अलिखत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √likh (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• श्लोकम्: a verse
• श्लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• महाख्यानम्: a great narrative
• महाख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महद् आख्यानम्)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रियकाम्यया: out of desire for what is dear (to her)
• प्रियकाम्यया: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya-kāmyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (प्रियस्य काम्या/इच्छा)

Speakers

• Narrator; the ‘ṛṣi’ is the muni previously referenced
• acting for Citrāṅgadā’s benefit.

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Power of sacred speech (śloka)
• Stotra/mahākhyāna as ritual instrument
• Shaiva sacred sites (āyatana)
• Compassionate guidance by sages

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is ‘Śrīkaṇṭha-āyatana’—a general epithet or a specific place?

In purāṇic usage, ‘āyatana’ typically indicates a concrete shrine/seat of worship. Here it functions as a named Śaiva sacred site (a Śrīkaṇṭha sanctuary) within the tīrtha landscape.

Why would composing a single śloka be called a ‘mahākhyāna’ (great narrative)?

Purāṇas often treat a potent, condensed verse as carrying the efficacy and authority of a larger sacred account—serving as a mantra-like summary that can be recited for merit or a specific boon.

How does this verse connect the pilgrim’s practice with textual tradition?

It shows a typical purāṇic mechanism: geography (tīrtha), ritual (worship and austerity), and text (a composed śloka/mahākhyāna) mutually reinforce one another to produce religious efficacy and fulfill aims.