Vamana Purana — Harihara Revelation, Shloka 14

Harihara Revelation and the Kurukshetra Tirtha Cycle: Sthanu in Vishnu and the Sanctification of Saptasarasvata

Devanagari script

कृपणं धर्महीनं च यद् वर्ज्यं यच्च वह्निदम् चतुद्र्दशममोवोक्तं नरकं तद् विगर्हितम्

Transliteration

kṛpaṇaṃ dharmahīnaṃ ca yad varjyaṃ yacca vahnidam catudrdaśamamovoktaṃ narakaṃ tad vigarhitam

Translation

Geiz und Mangel an dharma; das, was zu meiden ist; und das, was „dem Feuer gegeben wird“ (zerstörerisches, brandstiftendes Tun)—dies wird als der vierzehnte Makel bezeichnet; es wird getadelt als zum Höllenreich führend.

Word by Word

• कृपणम्: miserly (state/thing)
• कृपणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; adjective used substantively

• धर्महीनम्: devoid of righteousness
• धर्महीनम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘devoid of dharma’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; relative pronoun

• वर्ज्यम्: to be avoided
• वर्ज्यम्: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘to be avoided’

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; relative pronoun (repeated)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• वह्निदम्: fire-causing / incendiary
• वह्निदम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘giving fire/causing fire’ (agentive -द)

• चतुर्दशमम्: fourteenth
• चतुर्दशमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ordinal adjective

• उक्तम्: is declared
• उक्तम्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘said/declared’

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: समानााधिकरण/विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; nominative/accusative singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Anaphoric)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; demonstrative pronoun

• विगर्हितम्: condemned
• विगर्हितम्: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + गर्ह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘censured/condemned’

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (didactic enumeration with karmic warning).

Key Themes

• Dana (charity) vs. miserliness
• Adharma and prohibitions (varjya)
• Karmic retribution (naraka)
• Social harm and destruction (vahni-dam)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Is ‘kṛpaṇa’ merely ‘stingy with money’?

In dharma literature, kṛpaṇa is broader: a cramped, ungenerous disposition—unwillingness to share wealth, knowledge, protection, or kindness. It is opposed to dāna and dayā, which sustain social and religious life.

What does ‘vahni-dam’ likely indicate here?

Literally ‘giving to fire,’ it can denote acts that cause fire or destruction (e.g., arson, reckless burning), and more generally conduct that ‘inflames’ harm—ruining households, resources, or communal safety. The verse groups it with varjya (to be avoided), marking it as a serious transgression.

Why does the verse explicitly mention naraka (hell)?

The text shifts from listing faults to stating their karmic gravity. By naming naraka, it underscores that these are not minor lapses but condemned actions/dispositions with severe retributive consequences in Purāṇic moral cosmology.