Vamana Purana — Harihara Revelation, Shloka 28

Harihara Revelation and the Kurukshetra Tirtha Cycle: Sthanu in Vishnu and the Sanctification of Saptasarasvata

Devanagari script

तत्सर्वं विलयं याति स धर्मः सुतशिष्ययोः विपरीते भवेत् साध्य विपरीतः पदक्रमः

Transliteration

tatsarvaṃ vilayaṃ yāti sa dharmaḥ sutaśiṣyayoḥ viparīte bhavet sādhya viparītaḥ padakramaḥ

Translation

All that support comes to dissolution; that dharma depends upon a son and a disciple. If the order is reversed, the intended result is not accomplished—the sequence of steps becomes contrary.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all/entire
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तत्)

• विलयम्: dissolution/ruin
• विलयम्: Gati/Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: that/this (he/it)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• धर्मः: duty/merit (dharma)
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सुतशिष्ययोः: of son and disciple
• सुतशिष्ययोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः (सुत-शिष्य); षष्ठी (6), द्विवचन (genitive dual)

• विपरीते: when reversed/opposite
• विपरीते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (अधिकरणे) ‘in the reverse case/when reversed’

• भवेत्: would be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साध्य: O Sādhya
• साध्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• विपरीतः: reversed
• विपरीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (padakramaḥ)

• पदक्रमः: word order/sequence of words
• पदक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पदानां क्रमः)

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (chapter-level dialogue context not included).

Key Themes

• Necessity of son and disciple for continuity of dharma
• Procedural correctness (krama) in dharmic systems
• Transmission of rites/knowledge

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does it mean that ‘dharma is of son and disciple’?

It means the ongoing maintenance of dharma—especially household rites, ancestral obligations, and the preservation of teaching/lineage—requires the presence of a son (for familial/śrāddha continuity) and a disciple (for doctrinal/ritual transmission).

What is the ‘reversed order’ referring to?

It points to violating the proper sequence (krama) in establishing succession and transmission—e.g., neglecting to secure the appropriate successor(s) or confusing roles—leading to failure of the intended dharmic outcome.

Is this a purely ritual claim or also social?

Both. In Purāṇic dharma discourse, ritual efficacy and social continuity are intertwined: correct succession sustains rites, memory, and obligations across generations.