Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 19

Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)

Devanagari script

परिगृह्याथ परिघं भ्रामयामास दानवः भ्राम्यमाणं स चिच्छेद नाराचेन महामुनिः

Transliteration

parigṛhyātha parighaṃ bhrāmayāmāsa dānavaḥ bhrāmyamāṇaṃ sa ciccheda nārācena mahāmuniḥ

Translation

Having grasped the parigha, the Dānava began to whirl it. As it was being whirled, the great sage cut it down with a nārāca arrow.

Word by Word

• परिगृह्य: having seized / having taken hold of
• परिगृह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

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

• परिघम्: club / iron bar
• परिघम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भ्रामयामास: whirled / caused to spin
• भ्रामयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• दानवः: the demon
• दानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भ्राम्यमाणम्: being whirled
• भ्राम्यमाणम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (परिघम्) विशेषणम्

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

• चिच्छेद: cut
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नाराचेन: with a nārāca arrow (iron arrow)
• नाराचेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; करण

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (महान् मुनिः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Dialogue framework not explicit in the given verses (commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa narration)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Skill over brute force
• Ascetic/muni martial power

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power guided by tapas and precision can neutralize even formidable, fast-moving violence; dharmic steadiness is depicted as superior to aggressive display.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Narrative (ākhyāna) within Vamśānucarita/deva-asura conflict material; not directly sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa in these verses.

What is the symbolic significance?

The whirled club reflects uncontrolled, centrifugal wrath; the single nārāca that severs it symbolizes concentrated insight (ekāgratā) cutting through chaotic force.