Shloka 136

The Tārakāmaya War: Divine Mustering, Māyā Countermeasures, Aurva Fire, and Viṣṇu’s Slaying of Kālanemi

Devanagari script

तौ पाशशीतांशुधरौ वरुणेंदू महाबलौ । जघ्नतुर्हिमपातैश्च पाशपातैश्च दानवान्

Transliteration

tau pāśaśītāṃśudharau varuṇeṃdū mahābalau | jaghnaturhimapātaiśca pāśapātaiśca dānavān

Translation

هذان الجبّاران—فارونا وإندو، حاملا الحبل وذوي القوّة الباردة الجليديّة—صرعا الدانافا بوابلٍ من الصقيع وبقذائف من الحبال.

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• pāśa-śīta-aṃśu-dharau: the two who bear nooses and cold rays
• pāśa-śīta-aṃśu-dharau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + śīta (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśu (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); bahuvrīhi: 'pāśāḥ śītāṃśavaś ca dhriyete yābhyām' = 'bearing nooses and cold rays'

• varuṇa-indū: Varuṇa and the Moon
• varuṇa-indū: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); itaretara-dvandva: Varuṇa and Indu (Moon)

• mahābalau: very powerful (two)
• mahābalau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); karmadhāraya: 'mahac ca balaṃ yayoḥ'

• jaghnatuḥ: they two struck/killed
• jaghnatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, Imperfect/Past), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• hima-pātaiḥ: with falls/showers of snow
• hima-pātaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hima (प्रातिपदिक) + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'himasya pātaiḥ'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• pāśa-pātaiḥ: with showers/throws of nooses
• pāśa-pātaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'pāśānāṃ pātaiḥ'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• dānavān: demons (Dānavas)
• dānavān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual battle narration; specific dialogue speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: varuṇeṃdū→varuṇa-indū; jaghnaturhimapātaiśca→jaghnatuḥ hima-pātaiḥ ca; pāśapātaiśca→pāśa-pātaiḥ ca.

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa
• Indu (Moon)
• Dānavas

FAQs

Who are Varuṇa and Indu in this verse?

Varuṇa is a Vedic deity associated with cosmic order and waters, and Indu here refers to the Moon. The verse portrays them as powerful divine combatants acting against the Dānavas.

What is the significance of the ‘pāśa’ (noose) and ‘hima’ (frost) imagery?

The pāśa symbolizes restraint and binding power (subduing disorder), while hima/frost evokes cooling, immobilizing force—together depicting divine methods of overpowering chaotic, demonic forces.

What ethical or philosophical lesson can be drawn from this verse?

It frames the restoration of order as requiring both restraint (binding wrongdoing) and decisive action (disabling harmful forces), reflecting a Purāṇic theme that dharma is protected through disciplined power.