Vamana Purana — Rudra's Wrath & Kalarupa, Shloka 3

Rudra’s Wrath at Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Iconography of Kālarūpa through the Zodiac

Devanagari script

एकादश तथा रुद्रास्त्रिनेत्रा वृषकेतनाः कान्दिशीका लयं जग्मुः समभ्येत्यैव शङ्करम्

Transliteration

ekādaśa tathā rudrāstrinetrā vṛṣaketanāḥ kāndiśīkā layaṃ jagmuḥ samabhyetyaiva śaṅkaram

Translation

তদ্রূপ একাদশ রুদ্র—ত্রিনেত্র, বৃষচিহ্নধারী—উদ্বিগ্ন হয়ে শঙ্করের নিকট এসে তাতে লয় প্রাপ্ত হলেন।

Word by Word

• एकादश: eleven
• एकादश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral), द्विगु-समास (एक + दश)

• तथा: likewise / also
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• रुद्राः: the Rudras
• रुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• त्रिनेत्राः: three-eyed
• त्रिनेत्राः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (येषां त्रीणि नेत्राणि ते)

• वृषकेतनाः: having the bull as their banner
• वृषकेतनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + केतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (येषां वृषः केतनम्/ध्वजः ते)

• कान्दिशीकाः: the Kāndiśīkas (a class/group)
• कान्दिशीकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्दिशीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (दुर्लभ-शब्दः)

• लयम्: dissolution / absorption
• लयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जग्मुः: they went / attained
• जग्मुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• समभ्येत्य: having approached
• समभ्येत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग: सम्+अभि+; क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Pulastya (narrator) → (frame likely to Nārada)

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Śaṅkara)
• Rudras (eleven forms)

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Divine Assemblies (gaṇa/retinue)
• Laya (mergence into source)
• Theology of emanation and reabsorption

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Multiplicity returns to unity: even powerful divine manifestations (Rudras) are portrayed as dependent on and reabsorbed into the supreme principle they proceed from—encouraging humility and recognition of an ultimate ground.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is closest to Sarga/Pratisarga-style theological cosmology in miniature (emanation/mergence), presented through narrative imagery rather than explicit creation lists.

What is the symbolic significance?

The eleven Rudras (fierce forces) ‘merging’ into Śaṅkara dramatizes laya: the re-collection of dispersed energies into the Lord. The bull-emblem and three-eye marks emphasize Śaiva identity while the episode can simultaneously support non-dual readings where all forms resolve into one reality.