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

ভাঙা ধনুকটি ত্যাগ করে সে আর-একটি ধনুক গ্রহণ করল; দ্রুত তাতে জ্যা আরোপ করে সে তীক্ষ্ণ শরবৃষ্টি বর্ষণ করল।

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.