Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

ततो ऽतिवेगिनं वज्रं दृष्ट्वा बलवतां वरः समाप्लुत्य रथात्तस्थौ भुवि बाहु सहायवान्

Transliteration

tato 'tiveginaṃ vajraṃ dṛṣṭvā balavatāṃ varaḥ samāplutya rathāttasthau bhuvi bāhu sahāyavān

Translation

Dann, als er den äußerst schnellen Vajra erblickte, sprang der Vortrefflichste unter den Starken vom Wagen herab und stand auf der Erde, mit Bāhu als Beistand.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/हेतु/अपादानार्थक (from that/thereupon)

• अतिवेगिनम्: exceedingly swift
• अतिवेगिनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिवेगिन् (प्रातिपदिक: अति + वेगिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of वज्रम्)

• वज्रम्: vajra/thunderbolt
• वज्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• बलवताम्: of the strong
• बलवताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; ‘of the strong (ones)’

• वरः: the best/excellent one
• वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• समाप्लुत्य: having leapt
• समाप्लुत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having leapt up/aside’

• रथात्: from the chariot
• रथात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• तस्थौ: stood
• तस्थौ: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• बाहु: arm
• बाहु: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (as first member in compound)

• सहायवान्: having as helper/assisted
• सहायवान्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहायवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्/वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘possessed of’

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (inferred narrative frame continuing from prior verse)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Martial strategy
• Companionship/ally support

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Prudence and presence of mind are virtues even for the strongest: true strength includes discernment—knowing when to reposition rather than meet danger head-on.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita/Vamśānucarita-type narration: a descriptive battle episode focusing on individual action rather than cosmological categories.

What is the symbolic significance?

Dismounting from the chariot to stand on earth can symbolize grounding oneself in reality (bhuvi) when confronted with overwhelming force (vajra), and the necessity of supportive alliances (sahāya) in crisis.