Vamana Purana — Prahlada vs Nara-Narayana, Shloka 18

Prahlada’s Defeat by Nara-Narayana and Victory through Bhakti

Devanagari script

इयं ममोरुसंभृता कामाप्सरस माधव नीयतां सुरलोकाय दीयतां वासवाय च

Transliteration

iyaṃ mamorusaṃbhṛtā kāmāpsarasa mādhava nīyatāṃ suralokāya dīyatāṃ vāsavāya ca

Translation

“This kāmāpsarasā—raised, as it were, upon my thigh—O Mādhava, let her be taken to the world of the gods; let her be given to Vāsava (Indra) as well.”

Word by Word

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; this (female)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive—my

• उरु-संभृता: well-nurtured (on my lap)
• उरु-संभृता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरु (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-भृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/कर्मधारय-सदृश): ‘उरुणा/उरसा संभृता’ (well-nurtured/raised on the lap); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; qualifies ‘इयम्’

• काम-अप्सरसः: O Kāma-apsaras (apsaras)
• काम-अप्सरसः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘काम्या अप्सराः’/‘कामस्य अप्सराः’ (contextually: the apsaras named Kāma-apsaras); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; vocative address

• माधव: O Mādhava
• माधव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; vocative—O Mādhava

• नीयताम्: let (her) be taken
• नीयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘let (her) be led/taken’

• सुर-लोकाय: to the world of the gods
• सुर-लोकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): ‘सुराणां लोकः’; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; Dative—towards/for the world of gods

• दीयताम्: let (her) be given
• दीयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि (passive); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘let (her) be given’

• वासवाय: to Vāsava (Indra)
• वासवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; Dative—unto Vāsava (Indra)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction: and)

Speakers

• Unclear from excerpt (a speaker addresses Mādhava; likely a divine figure within the episode).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Mādhava)
• Indra (Vāsava)
• Kandarpa (implicit via kāmāpsarasā)

Key Themes

• Vaishnavism
• Deva-court economy (gifts/boons)
• Apsaras motif
• Desire as instrument within cosmic order

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse implies that alluring forces (kāma-symbolized apsarās) can be assigned a regulated place within dharmic governance rather than allowed to disrupt ascetic steadiness. Order is maintained by rightful allocation and purpose.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is episodic narrative (carita/ākhyāna) illustrating divine administration among devas—closest to Vamśānucarita-style storytelling rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara cataloging.

What is the symbolic significance?

Sending the apsaras to Svarga and to Indra suggests that sensual splendor belongs to the deva-sphere (a controlled, ritualized luxury), while the supreme (Mādhava) remains unbound by it—highlighting hierarchy between transcendence and celestial enjoyment.