Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 77

Nara-Narayana’s Tapas, Indra’s Temptation, and the Burning of Kama: The Origin of Ananga and the Shiva-Linga Episode

Devanagari script

विष्णुः पितामहश्चोभौ हरलिङ्गं समेत्य हि कृताञ्जलिपुटौ भूत्वा स्तोतुं देवं प्रचक्रतुः

Transliteration

viṣṇuḥ pitāmahaścobhau haraliṅgaṃ sametya hi kṛtāñjalipuṭau bhūtvā stotuṃ devaṃ pracakratuḥ

Translation

Vishnu and Pitāmaha (Brahmā), both together, approached the Hara-liṅga; having formed their hands into a gesture of reverence, they began to praise the God.

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उभौ: both (of them)
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• हर-लिङ्गम्: the emblem/sign of Hara (Śiva-liṅga)
• हर-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• समेत्य: having approached/met
• समेत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुटौ: with hands joined in reverence (both)
• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुटौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातु) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्तृविशेषण; 'कृतः अञ्जलिपुटः ययोः' (hands folded as a hollow)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजन (purpose)

• देवम्: the god (Śiva)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• प्रचक्रतुः: they began/undertook
• प्रचक्रतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चक्र्/कृ (धातु; periphrastic from √कृ)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice; action of Vishnu and Brahma leading into their spoken hymn

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Shiva

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Vaishnavism
• Bhakti
• Linga Worship
• Sectarian Harmony

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The highest divine agents model humility and devotion: even cosmic administrators (Vishnu, Brahmā) adopt añjali and praise, teaching that reverence is not negated by greatness.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Best placed under Vamśānucarita/Manvantara-style narrative theology (deity interactions within cosmic administration), though not genealogical; it functions as a doctrinal episode affirming worship (stuti) and the liṅga as a focal symbol.

What is the symbolic significance?

The joint approach to the liṅga dramatizes non-competition among deities: the liṅga becomes the axis of unity where Vaiṣṇava and Brāhma motifs converge into Śaiva devotion, expressing Purāṇic inclusivism.