Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

राजसः पञ्चवदनो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः स्रष्टा चराचरस्यास्य जगतो ऽद्भुतदर्शनः

Transliteration

rājasaḥ pañcavadano vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ sraṣṭā carācarasyāsya jagato 'dbhutadarśanaḥ

Translation

Der rājasa ist fünffach angesichtig, kundig der Veden und Vedāṅgas; er ist der Schöpfer dieser ganzen Welt, des Beweglichen und Unbeweglichen, von wunderbarer Erscheinung.

Word by Word

• राजसः: rajasic
• राजसः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पञ्च-वदनः: five-faced
• पञ्च-वदनः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound: 'five-faced')

• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-पारगः: master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-पारगः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + वेदाङ्ग + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वेद-वेदाङ्ग इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व as prior member; whole as तत्पुरुष with पारग ('gone to the far shore' = master)

• स्रष्टा: creator
• स्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक; √सृज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• चर-अचरस्य: of the moving and unmoving (beings)
• चर-अचरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व ('moving and unmoving')

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronominal)

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अद्भुत-दर्शनः: of wondrous appearance
• अद्भुत-दर्शनः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'he whose appearance/vision is wondrous'

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (frame narrative; typical for Vāmana Purāṇa)

Primary Deities

• Brahmā (implied by five faces and Vedic mastery)
• Viṣṇu (as ultimate source in the surrounding cosmogonic account)

Key Themes

• Sarga (creation)
• Guṇas (rajas)
• Vedic authority (Veda-Vedāṅga)
• Moving and unmoving creation (cara/ācara)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The creator-function is grounded in Vedic order: mastery of Veda/Vedāṅga symbolizes that creation is intelligible and structured. Ethically, it elevates śāstra (right knowledge) as the basis for right action in the manifested world.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

Sarga: the verse characterizes the creative agency (the sraṣṭā) and the scope of what is produced (cara and ācara).

What is the symbolic significance?

Five faces commonly symbolize comprehensive cognition and the spread of sacred sound/knowledge in all directions. The ‘moving and unmoving’ pair indicates totality—life and matter, sentient and insentient—within the created order.