Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 41

Akhaṇḍa-Ekādaśī Vrata and the Vaiṣṇava Protective Hymn; Prelude to the Kātyāyanī–Mahiṣāsura Narrative

Devanagari script

पुलस्त्य उवाच/ श्रूयतां संप्रवक्ष्यामि कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् सर्वदा वरदा दुर्गा येयं कात्यायनी मुने

Transliteration

pulastya uvāca/ śrūyatāṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi kathāṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm sarvadā varadā durgā yeyaṃ kātyāyanī mune

Translation

Pulastya said: “Listen; I shall now narrate an account that destroys sin. This Durgā—ever a giver of boons—is indeed Kātyāyanī, O sage.”

Word by Word

• पुलस्त्यः: Pulastya
• पुलस्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे (let it be heard)

• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall narrate
• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्+प्र

• कथाम्: story
• कथाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पापप्रणाशिनीम्: destroying sin
• पापप्रणाशिनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + प्रणाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पापस्य प्रणाशिनी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कथाम् इति विशेषण

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time): ‘always’

• वरदा: boon-giving
• वरदा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दुर्गा इति विशेषण

• दुर्गा: Durgā
• दुर्गा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• या: who (she)
• या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इयम्: this (very one)
• इयम्: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कात्यायनी: Kātyāyanī
• कात्यायनी: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कात्यायनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दुर्गायाः नाम

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speakers

• Pulastya to Narada (dialogue frame)

Primary Deities

• Durgā
• Kātyāyanī

Key Themes

• Shakti/Devi
• Purifying Hearing (śravaṇa)
• Boons and Divine Grace
• Daitya-Deva Conflict (setup)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purāṇic listening is presented as soteriological: hearing (śravaṇa) itself is ‘pāpa-praṇāśinī’ when the content is sacred and received with reverence. The Goddess is characterized not merely as a warrior but as ‘varadā’—grace and protection are central.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is narrative framing (anubandha) leading into Vaṃśānucarita/Carita: the sage announces a kathā that will explain the rise of specific asuras and the Goddess’s intervention.

What is the symbolic significance?

Identifying Durgā with Kātyāyanī links the cosmic Goddess to a named, approachable form worshipped in vrata and festival contexts (e.g., Navarātra traditions). It signals that transcendent power is simultaneously personal, boon-giving, and responsive.