Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 16

Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)

Devanagari script

तानप्यस्य शरान् साध्यश्छित्त्वा बाणैरवारयत् कार्मुकं च क्षुरप्रेण चिच्छेद पुरुषोत्तमः

Transliteration

tānapyasya śarān sādhyaśchittvā bāṇairavārayat kārmukaṃ ca kṣurapreṇa ciccheda puruṣottamaḥ

Translation

তার সেই শরগুলিও সাধ্য নিজের বাণে কেটে প্রতিহত করল; আর পুরুষোত্তম ক্ষুরমুখ বাণে ধনুকটিও ছিন্ন করলেন।

Word by Word

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of him)

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• साध्यः: Sādhya (the hero)
• साध्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• छित्त्वा: having cut
• छित्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण (instrument)

• अवारयत्: warded off / stopped
• अवारयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-वारय् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• क्षुरप्रेण: with a razor(-edged arrowhead)
• क्षुरप्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुर + प्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (क्षुरस्य प्रः/प्रेण—razor-pointed), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• चिच्छेद: cut (to pieces)
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तमः: the best of men
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (श्रेष्ठः पुरुषः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Unspecified in input (commonly Pulastya → Nārada narrative layer)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Puruṣottama)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Divine protection (paritrāṇa)
• Skillful counteraction (pratīkāra) and disarmament

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is not merely defensive; it is also corrective—neutralizing the source of harm. The emphasis is on proportionate action: first intercepting the arrows, then removing the weapon.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best cataloged under Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (narratives of deeds and conflicts of prominent beings) within the Purāṇic composition, rather than the cosmological lakṣaṇas.

What is the symbolic significance?

Cutting down incoming arrows signifies the dissolution of hostile intentions before they fructify; severing the bow with a kṣura-headed arrow symbolizes incisive wisdom/action that removes the very capacity for repeated wrongdoing.