Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

तं शकरो ऽभ्येत्य वचो वभाषे नरं हि नारायणबाहुजातम् निपातयैनं नर दुष्टवाक्यं ब्रह्मात्मजं सूर्यशतप्रकाशम्

Transliteration

taṃ śakaro 'bhyetya vaco vabhāṣe naraṃ hi nārāyaṇabāhujātam nipātayainaṃ nara duṣṭavākyaṃ brahmātmajaṃ sūryaśataprakāśam

Translation

Approaching him, Śaṅkara spoke these words: “This is Nara, born from Nārāyaṇa’s arm. Strike down this wicked-tongued one, O Nara—you who are Brahmā’s son, radiant like a hundred suns.”

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म) — object of ‘approaching/addressing’
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana

• śakaraḥ: Śakara (a name/epithet)
• śakaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (proper name/epithet)

• abhyetya: having approached
• abhyetya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-i (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having approached’

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म) — object of speaking
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vabhāṣe: spoke
• vabhāṣe: Kriyā (क्रिया) — main verb
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• naram: the man
• naram: Karma (कर्म) — object/apposition to ‘tam’
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), emphasis/causal nuance

• nārāyaṇa-bāhu-jātam: born from Nārāyaṇa’s arm
• nārāyaṇa-bāhu-jātam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘naram/tam’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārāyaṇa + bāhu + jāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (born from Nārāyaṇa’s arm)

• nipātaya: strike down / make fall
• nipātaya: Kriyā (क्रिया) — command
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-pat (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• enam: this one/him
• enam: Karma (कर्म) — object of command
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• nara: O man
• nara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन) — address
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• duṣṭa-vākyam: evil-speaking
• duṣṭa-vākyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘enam/naram’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः (wicked-speeched)

• brahma-ātmajam: Brahmā’s son
• brahma-ātmajam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘enam/naram’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (son of Brahmā)

• sūrya-śata-prakāśam: radiant like a hundred suns
• sūrya-śata-prakāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘enam/naram’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya + śata + prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (having brightness of a hundred suns)

Speakers

• Śaṅkara (Shiva) addressing Nara; broader dialogue frame not specified in input

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Śaṅkara)
• Vishnu/Nārāyaṇa
• Brahmā

Key Themes

• Shaiva–Vaishnava Synthesis
• Dharma vs. adharma (punishing wicked speech/violence)
• Divine cooperation (Shiva endorsing Nārāyaṇa-linked Nara)
• Heroic combat under divine sanction

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Speech that incites violence and prideful harm (duṣṭa-vāk) is treated as a moral fault warranting restraint. Dharma is upheld not merely by personal prowess but by alignment with divine order and right counsel.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / narrative episode: a divine-heroic incident illustrating the actions of exalted beings, not a cosmological section.

What is the symbolic significance?

Shiva’s instruction to Nara—who is simultaneously linked to Nārāyaṇa and called Brahmā’s son—symbolizes Purāṇic integration: divine powers are complementary, and righteous force is legitimized through cross-deity affirmation rather than sectarian rivalry.