Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

बन्धुजीवाधरा शुभ्रा सिन्दुवारनखाद्भता पुंस्कोकिलस्वना दिव्या अङ्कोलवसना शुभा

Transliteration

bandhujīvādharā śubhrā sinduvāranakhādbhatā puṃskokilasvanā divyā aṅkolavasanā śubhā

Translation

شفَتاها كأزهار بَنْدُهْجِيفا، وهي مشرقة بهيّة. أظفارها عجيبة كزهرة سِنْدُوڤارا. صوتها كنداء الوقواق الذكر—صوتٌ إلهي؛ وهي مباركة، متزينة بأزهار أَنْكولا.

Word by Word

• बन्धुजीव-अधरा: whose lips are like bandhujīva flowers
• बन्धुजीव-अधरा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्धुजीव (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्या अधरः बन्धुजीवपुष्पसदृशः

• शुभ्रा: bright/white, radiant
• शुभ्रा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सिन्दुवार-नख-आद्भता: having wondrous sinduvāra-like nails
• सिन्दुवार-नख-आद्भता: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिन्दुवार (प्रातिपदिक) + नख (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्या नखाः सिन्दुवारसदृशाः (अद्भुताः)

• पुंस्-कोकिल-स्वना: having a voice like a male cuckoo
• पुंस्-कोकिल-स्वना: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक) + कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्या स्वनः पुंकोकिलस्वरवत्

• दिव्या: divine
• दिव्या: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अङ्कोल-वसना: wearing aṅkola-colored/associated garments
• अङ्कोल-वसना: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्कोल (प्रातिपदिक) + वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्या वसनम् अङ्कोलवर्ण/अङ्कोलद्रव्यसम्बद्धम्

• शुभा: auspicious, beautiful
• शुभा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speakers

• Narrative frame typically Pulastya → Nārada (exact speaker not explicit in provided excerpt)

Key Themes

• Sacred description (stuti/varṇana)
• Auspicious sensory symbolism (sight/sound)
• Devotional aesthetics

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse sacralizes the senses: speech (voice) and appearance become instruments of dharmic uplift when aligned with auspiciousness and restraint, reflecting how devotion refines perception.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It operates as descriptive support within a māhātmya/narrative layer rather than a core pañcalakṣaṇa category; it is part of the Purāṇic method of teaching through evocative portrayal.

What is the symbolic significance?

Bandhujīva (red) often signals vitality and auspicious love; cuckoo-song suggests sweetness and seasonal renewal; floral ‘wearing’ indicates the embodiment of śrī (prosperity/auspicious grace) through natural symbols.