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

Auch Andhaka spannte mit großer Schnelligkeit seinen strahlenden Bogen und schoss Pfeile auf Purandara (Indra), den in Pfauenfedern Gekleideten.

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).