Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

अपास्यत धनुश्छिन्नं चापमादाय चापरम् अधिज्यं लाघवात् कृत्वा ववर्ष निशिताञ्शरान्

Transliteration

apāsyata dhanuśchinnaṃ cāpamādāya cāparam adhijyaṃ lāghavāt kṛtvā vavarṣa niśitāñśarān

Translation

فطرح القوس المكسور وأخذ قوسًا آخر؛ وشدَّه بسرعة، فأمطر سهامًا حادّة كالمطر.

Word by Word

• अपास्यत: (he) threw away / cast aside
• अपास्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• छिन्नम्: cut / broken
• छिन्नम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• चापम्: bow
• चापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अधिज्यम्: with the bowstring fitted / strung
• अधिज्यम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि + ज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (upapada: अधि-), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• लाघवात्: due to swiftness / agility
• लाघवात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (often used as abstract), पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• कृत्वा: having made / having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• ववर्ष: rained down / showered
• ववर्ष: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• निशितान्: sharp
• निशितान्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Unspecified in input (commonly framed as Pulastya narrating to Nārada)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Puruṣottama)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Persistence of adharmic opposition
• Martial escalation and response

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma often persists even after setbacks; mere loss of an instrument (the bow) does not end hostile intent. The narrative prepares for the need of decisive, dharma-restoring intervention.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Again, it functions as carita-style conflict narration within the Purāṇic discourse framework, not cosmogenesis. It illustrates exemplary deeds and their consequences.

What is the symbolic significance?

The rapid re-stringing (lāghava) signifies the quick reconstitution of ego and aggression. The ‘rain of arrows’ depicts the overwhelming nature of unchecked hostility.