Vamana Purana — Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva, Shloka 46

The Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva: Himavan Grants the Marriage

Devanagari script

कमण्डलुव्यग्रकरो भस्मारुणितविग्रहः प्रत्याश्रमं पर्यटन् स तं काल्याश्रममागतः

Transliteration

kamaṇḍaluvyagrakaro bhasmāruṇitavigrahaḥ pratyāśramaṃ paryaṭan sa taṃ kālyāśramamāgataḥ

Translation

Mit der Hand auf den Kamaṇḍalu (Wasserkrug) bedacht, den Leib rötlich und mit Asche bedeckt, wanderte er von Āśrama zu Āśrama und gelangte zu jenem Āśrama der Kālī.

Word by Word

• कमण्डलुव्यग्रकरः: whose hand was busy holding a water-pot
• कमण्डलुव्यग्रकरः: विशेषण (Qualifier of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमण्डलु + व्यग्र + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः: ‘कमण्डलुना व्यग्रः करः यस्य’ = whose hand is occupied with a water-pot

• भस्मारुणितविग्रहः: whose body was reddened/covered with ash
• भस्मारुणितविग्रहः: विशेषण (Qualifier of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म + अरुणित + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः: ‘भस्मना अरुणितः विग्रहः यस्य’

• प्रति: towards/each
• प्रति: सम्बन्ध (Directional marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्ययम् (preposition-like: towards/each)

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: कर्म (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पर्यटन्: wandering about
• पर्यटन्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-अट् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्तः (present active participle), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• तम्: that
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• काल्याश्रमम्: Kālī’s hermitage
• काल्याश्रमम्: कर्म (Goal/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (काल्याः आश्रमः)

• आगतः: arrived
• आगतः: क्रिया (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; ‘having come/arrived’

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Purāṇic dialogue framework (commonly Pulastya → Nārada); immediate speaker not explicit in the verse

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Kālī

Key Themes

• Vaishnavism
• Shaiva-Shakta presence (Kālī āśrama context)
• Ascetic markers (kamaṇḍalu, bhasma)
• Pilgrimage/wandering

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes disciplined movement and ascetic simplicity—Vāmana’s approach is non-coercive and dhārmic, suggesting that righteous aims can be pursued through humility, restraint, and proper social-religious codes.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita/Carita: it continues the avatāra narrative by detailing the embodied conduct and itinerary of the deity in the episode.

What is the symbolic significance?

Ash (bhasma) and the kamaṇḍalu are classic ascetic symbols; their inclusion in a Vishnu-avatāra scene reflects the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian texture—Vishnu’s līlā comfortably adopts markers commonly associated with Śaiva/āśramic asceticism.