Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 2

Sukeshi’s Inquiry into Dharma: The Seven Dvipas and the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

अन्धको ऽपि महावेगं धनुराकृष्य भास्वरम् पुरन्दराय चिक्षेप शरान् बर्हिणवाससः

Transliteration

andhako 'pi mahāvegaṃ dhanurākṛṣya bhāsvaram purandarāya cikṣepa śarān barhiṇavāsasaḥ

Translation

অন্ধকও মহাবেগে দীপ্তিমান ধনুক টেনে, ময়ূরপুচ্ছ-পরিহিত পুরন্দর (ইন্দ্র)-এর দিকে শর নিক্ষেপ করল।

Word by Word

• अन्धकः: Andhaka
• अन्धकः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• महावेगम्: very swift/with great speed
• महावेगम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावेग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + वेग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• आकृष्य: having drawn
• आकृष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having drawn/pulled’

• भास्वरम्: shining, radiant
• भास्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• पुरन्दराय: to Purandara (Indra)
• पुरन्दराय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बर्हिणवाससः: of the peacock-feather-clad one
• बर्हिणवाससः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिणवासस् (प्रातिपदिक: बर्हिण + वासस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘whose garment is peacock-feathered’ (epithet)

Speakers

• Narratorial (frame dialogue not explicit in these verses; commonly Pulastya → Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa)

Primary Deities

• Indra (Purandara)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Martial valor
• Kṣātra-dharma (warrior ethos)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse highlights the inevitability of conflict when adharma confronts the divine order; prowess alone is morally neutral—its ethical value depends on the side and purpose it serves.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita/Carita-type narration: an episode within the ongoing histories of devas and daityas (not sarga/pratisarga; not primarily manvantara).

What is the symbolic significance?

Andhaka’s ‘brilliant bow’ symbolizes the daitya’s formidable but misdirected power; the targeting of Indra signals an assault on cosmic governance (indra-śakti as the stabilizing regent power).