Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 38

Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Origin of Kapalin Rudra (Pulastya–Narada Dialogue)

Devanagari script

अथ क्रोधावृतेनापि ब्रह्मणाद्भुवतकर्मणा सृष्टस्तु पुरुषो धीमान् कवची कुण्डली शरी

Transliteration

atha krodhāvṛtenāpi brahmaṇādbhuvatakarmaṇā sṛṣṭastu puruṣo dhīmān kavacī kuṇḍalī śarī

Translation

তাৰ পিছত ক্ৰোধে আৱৃত হ’লেও অদ্ভুত কৰ্মসম্পন্ন ব্ৰহ্মাই এজন ধীমন্ত পুৰুষ সৃষ্টি কৰিলে—যি কবচধাৰী, কুণ্ডলধাৰী আৰু শৰধাৰী আছিল।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘then’

• क्रोध-आवृतेन: by (one) overcome with anger
• क्रोध-आवृतेन: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘covered/overcome by anger’ qualifying ब्रह्मणा

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘also/even’

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; agent-instrumental with सृष्टः

• अद्भुत-कर्मणा: by the wondrous-deeded (one)
• अद्भुत-कर्मणा: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose deeds are wondrous’ qualifying ब्रह्मणा

• सृष्टः: created
• सृष्टः: क्रिया-भाव (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु) → सृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; passive participle: ‘created’

• तु: indeed, however
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adversative/emphatic particle): ‘but/indeed’

• पुरुषः: a man/person
• पुरुषः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject (the created person)

• धीमान्: intelligent, wise
• धीमान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of पुरुषः: ‘intelligent’

• कवची: armored
• कवची: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कवचिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of पुरुषः: ‘armored’

• कुण्डली: earringed
• कुण्डली: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of पुरुषः: ‘wearing earrings’

• शरी: arrow-bearing (armed)
• शरी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरिन्/शरी (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of पुरुषः; likely ‘bearing arrows’ (शरिन्) / ‘armed with arrows’ (text: शरी)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Purana (likely within Pulastya–Nārada frame; specific speaker not explicit in the given excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Brahma

Key Themes

• Sarga (secondary creation motif)
• Daitya-Deva conflict (implied martial context)
• Divine wrath as creative power
• Protection/armor symbolism

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Wrath (krodha) is portrayed not merely as a vice but as a cosmic force that, when held by a deity, can be redirected into dharma-protecting action. The created ‘wise warrior’ suggests that righteous protection may arise even from intense emotion when governed by higher intelligence (dhī).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This aligns most closely with Sarga/Pratisarga-type motifs (creation of beings for a purpose), even if embedded within an episodic narrative. It is a localized ‘sṛṣṭi’ (emanation/creation) rather than a full cosmogony.

What is the symbolic significance?

Armor and ornaments signify prepared potency: kavaca (protection) and kuṇḍala (royal/divine mark) frame the being as a sanctioned instrument of cosmic order. The detail that he is dhīmān (wise) tempers the martial imagery with the ideal of discriminating force.