Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

ततो ऽनन्तं हरिर्लिङ्गं दृष्ट्वारुह्य खगेश्वरम् पातालं प्रविवेशाथ विस्मयान्तरितो विभुः

Transliteration

tato 'nantaṃ harirliṅgaṃ dṛṣṭvāruhya khageśvaram pātālaṃ praviveśātha vismayāntarito vibhuḥ

Translation

ثم إنّ هري، لما رأى اللِنْغَ الذي لا نهاية له، امتطى سيّد الطير (غارودا) ودخل إلى باتالا؛ فاحتجب الجبّار عن الأنظار، مستغرقًا في العجب.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय (then)

• अनन्तम्: endless
• अनन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘endless’ (लिङ्गस्य विशेषणम्)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having mounted/ascended’

• खगेश्वरम्: lord of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khageśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (खगानाम् ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पातालम्: Pātāla (netherworld)
• पातालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रविवेश: entered
• प्रविवेश: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय (then)

• विस्मयान्तरितः: overwhelmed/covered by wonder
• विस्मयान्तरितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vismayāntarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विस्मयेन अन्तरितः/आवृतः), भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विभुः: the mighty one
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Purāṇic frame (commonly Pulastya → Nārada
• though not explicit in the given verses)

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu (Hari)
• Garuḍa
• Śiva (implied via the liṅga)

Key Themes

• Infinity of the divine sign (ananta-liṅga)
• Cosmic exploration (upper/lower worlds)
• Humility before the immeasurable
• Sectarian harmony (Viṣṇu seeking Śiva’s sign)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even the supreme cosmic powers meet mystery: the proper response to the infinite is reverent wonder (vismaya) rather than conquest. The descent to Pātāla signifies the willingness to search in all domains, yet accept limits of cognition.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best categorized under Carita/Vamśānucarita-style narrative material: an illustrative episode about divine action and recognition of transcendence, not a genealogical or creation account.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘endless liṅga’ symbolizes the unbounded Absolute. Viṣṇu’s downward journey (to Pātāla) complements Brahmā’s upward ascent (next verse), together expressing that neither ‘below’ nor ‘above’ contains the whole of ultimate reality.