Vamana Purana — Sukesha's Boon & Twelve Dharmas, Shloka 19

Sukesha’s Boon, the Twelve Dharmas of Beings, and the Cosmography of the Seven Dvipas with the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

विद्याधरत्वमतुलं विज्ञानं पौरुषे मतिः विद्याधराणां धर्मो ऽयं भवान्यां भक्तिरेव च

Transliteration

vidyādharatvamatulaṃ vijñānaṃ pauruṣe matiḥ vidyādharāṇāṃ dharmo 'yaṃ bhavānyāṃ bhaktireva ca

Translation

مرتبة الفيديادهارا التي لا نظير لها، والمعرفة المميِّزة (فيجنانا)، والعزم الثابت الشجاع—هذا هو دارما الفيديادهارات؛ ومعه أيضًا البهاكتي لبهافاني، الإلهة.

Word by Word

• विद्याधरत्वम्: Vidyādhara-hood
• विद्याधरत्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याधर + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विद्याधरस्य भावः) + त्व-प्रत्यय — ‘state of being a Vidyādhara’

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: विशेषण (to विद्याधरत्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण — ‘incomparable’

• विज्ञानम्: knowledge, discernment
• विज्ञानम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पौरुषे: in valor/manliness
• पौरुषे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — ‘in manliness/valor’

• मतिः: intelligence, inclination
• मतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विद्याधराणाम्: of the Vidyādharas
• विद्याधराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘of the Vidyādharas’

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: विशेषण (Demonstrative to धर्मः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम — ‘this’

• भवान्याम्: in Bhavānī
• भवान्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — ‘in/with Bhavānī (Pārvatī)’

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात — ‘indeed/only’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात — ‘and’

Speakers

• Not specified in the prompt (commonly Pulastya → Nārada framework in Vāmana Purāṇa; verify with full chapter context)

Primary Deities

• Bhavānī (Pārvatī/Durgā)

Key Themes

• Bhakti
• Śākta-Śaiva devotion
• Dharma/guṇa taxonomy
• Purāṇic ethnography of celestial classes

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames 'dharma' as an intrinsic disposition: refined knowledge (vijñāna) and firm resolve are crowned by devotion to the Goddess. It suggests that spiritual identity is validated not only by power/attainment (vidyādharatva) but by bhakti as the integrating virtue.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under ancillary purāṇic material supporting Vamśānucarita/Manvantarānucarita-style descriptions (worldly orders and beings) rather than sarga/pratisarga proper. It functions as dharma-varṇana (characterization of groups) within the narrative frame.

What is the symbolic significance?

By making Bhavānī-bhakti a defining mark for Vidyādharas, the text foregrounds sectarian inclusivity: exalted beings are anchored in devotion to the Devī, implying that siddhi/knowledge finds its telos in reverence and surrender.