Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Coronation, Shloka 16

Andhaka’s Coronation, Boons from Shiva, and the Daiva–Asura War (Vahana Catalogues)

Devanagari script

रुद्रोरुसंभवो भीमः कृष्णवर्णो मनोजवः पौण्ड्रको नाम महिषो धर्मराजस्य नारद

Transliteration

rudrorusaṃbhavo bhīmaḥ kṛṣṇavarṇo manojavaḥ pauṇḍrako nāma mahiṣo dharmarājasya nārada

Translation

ৰুদ্ৰৰ ঊৰুৰ পৰা উৎপন্ন, ভীষণ, কৃষ্ণবৰ্ণ, মনোজৱ—হে নাৰদ, ‘পৌণ্ড্ৰক’ নামৰ মহিষ ধৰ্মৰাজ যমৰ বাহন।

Word by Word

• रुद्र-ऊरु-संभवः: born from Rudra’s thigh
• रुद्र-ऊरु-संभवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘रुद्रस्य ऊरुतः संभवः’ (born from Rudra’s thigh)

• भीमः: terrible
• भीमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कृष्णवर्णः: black-colored
• कृष्णवर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मनोजवः: swift as the mind
• मनोजवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मनसः जवः’ = mind-speed; विशेषण

• पौण्ड्रकः: Pauṇḍraka (name)
• पौण्ड्रकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निपात (particle indicating naming)

• महिषः: buffalo
• महिषः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to ‘पौण्ड्रकः’

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmarāja (Yama)
• धर्मराजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘धर्मराज’ = Yama

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speakers

• Pulastya to Narada

Primary Deities

• Rudra (Shiva aspect)
• Dharmaraja/Yama

Key Themes

• Deva iconography
• Death and dharma symbolism
• Sectarian harmony (Rudra as source of other deities’ emblems)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma (cosmic law) is inseparable from accountability: Yama’s mount imagery stresses the inevitability and swiftness of moral consequence (mano-java), urging ethical vigilance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

As with the preceding verse, this is ancillary descriptive content (devatā-lakṣaṇa/vāhana-kathana) within the dialogue framework, not a primary pancalakṣaṇa component.

What is the symbolic significance?

The buffalo—dark, formidable, and fast—mirrors Yama’s inexorable function. Its Rudra-origin again suggests a shared divine source behind varied cosmic roles (ascetic power generating forces of governance and judgment).