Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तमोमयस्तथैवान्यः समुद्भूतस्त्रिलोचनः शूलपाणिः कपर्द्दी च अक्षमालां च दर्शयन्

Transliteration

tamomayastathaivānyaḥ samudbhūtastrilocanaḥ śūlapāṇiḥ kaparddī ca akṣamālāṃ ca darśayan

Translation

Likewise another arose, constituted of tamas: three-eyed, bearing the trident, with matted locks, and displaying the akṣamālā, the sacred rosary.

Word by Word

• तमोमयः: made of darkness
• तमोमयः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक/तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तद्धितान्त -मय (made of)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समुद्भूतः: arisen, produced
• समुद्भूतः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-भू (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘arisen/produced’

• त्रिलोचनः: the three-eyed one
• त्रिलोचनः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (three-eyed)

• शूलपाणिः: trident-handed
• शूलपाणिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (having a trident in hand)

• कपर्द्दी: the matted-haired one
• कपर्द्दी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कपर्दिन्-शब्द (one with matted hair/topknot)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अक्षमालाम्: a rosary
• अक्षमालाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षमाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-प्रयोग

Speakers

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

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Rudra; indicated by trilocana, śūla, kapardin, akṣamālā)

Key Themes

• Sarga (functional emanations)
• Guṇa theory (tamas)
• Śaiva iconography
• Sectarian harmony (co-presence of Viṣṇu-centered cosmogony and Śiva-form description)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The cosmos requires both manifestation and restraint: tamas here is not merely ‘evil’ but the principle of consolidation, limitation, and eventual withdrawal. The verse invites a balanced view of the guṇas as necessary cosmic functions.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

Within Sarga (and the broader cosmological account that often anticipates Pralaya), this verse identifies a tamasa manifestation associated with the power that stabilizes and dissolves forms—an essential complement to rājasa creation.

What is the symbolic significance?

Three eyes signify transcendent awareness beyond duality; the trident can indicate mastery over the three guṇas or the threefold time. The rosary and matted hair mark ascetic sovereignty—withdrawal and inner control—balancing the outward creative surge of rajas.