Vamana Purana — Sati's Death & Virabhadra, Shloka 25

Sati’s Death and the Assault on Daksha’s Sacrifice: Virabhadra versus the Devas

Devanagari script

कार्मुकं च द्वितीयेन तृतीयेनाथ मार्गणान् चतुर्थेन गदां गृह्य धर्ममभ्यद्रवद् गणः

Transliteration

kārmukaṃ ca dvitīyena tṛtīyenātha mārgaṇān caturthena gadāṃ gṛhya dharmamabhyadravad gaṇaḥ

Translation

وبيده الثانية تناول القوس، وبالثالثة أخذ السهام، وبالرابعة قبض على الهراوة، ثم اندفع الغَنا لمهاجمة دارما.

Word by Word

• kārmukam: bow
• kārmukam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): 'and'

• dvitīyena: with the second (hand)
• dvitīyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (implicit) kareṇa 'with the second (hand)'

• tṛtīyena: with the third (hand)
• tṛtīyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (implicit) kareṇa 'with the third (hand)'

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'then/and then'

• mārgaṇān: arrows
• mārgaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• caturthena: with the fourth (hand)
• caturthena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (implicit) kareṇa 'with the fourth (hand)'

• gadām: mace
• gadām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• gṛhya: having seized
• gṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु) (ल्यप्-कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): 'having taken/seizing'

• dharmam: Dharma
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• abhyadravat: rushed at/charged
• abhyadravat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√drav (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• gaṇaḥ: the gaṇa (attendant)
• gaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within the Purāṇic narrative frame; commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa)

Primary Deities

• Gaṇeśvara (Gaṇeśa / gaṇa-leader)
• Dharma (Dharmarāja)

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Dharma
• Martial preparedness
• Divine iconography (multiple arms)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The many-armed iconography conveys competence and readiness: righteous action may require multiple means—restraint (bow), precision (arrows), and decisive force (mace)—applied appropriately.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is narrative action (carita) rather than sarga/pratisarga; it functions as a didactic mythic episode illustrating divine agency within dharma-centric storytelling.

What is the symbolic significance?

The bow-and-arrow motif evokes disciplined intent and targeted correction; the mace evokes direct, stabilizing power—together presenting a complete spectrum of protective sovereignty.