Vamana Purana — Rudra's Wrath & Kalarupa, Shloka 27

Rudra’s Wrath at Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Iconography of Kālarūpa through the Zodiac

Devanagari script

तमेवानुससारेशश्चापमानम्य वेगवान् शरं पाशुपतं कृत्वा कालरूपी महेश्वरः

Transliteration

tamevānusasāreśaścāpamānamya vegavān śaraṃ pāśupataṃ kṛtvā kālarūpī maheśvaraḥ

Translation

The Lord Īśa, swift in speed, pursued him alone; bending his bow, Maheśvara—assuming the form of Time (Kāla)—made ready a Pāśupata arrow.

Word by Word

• tam: him/that one
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• anusasāra: pursued/followed
• anusasāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; with prefix anu-

• īśaḥ: the Lord (Śiva)
• īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ānamya: having bent/drawn
• ānamya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय: ā- + nam + ya = ānamya)

• vegavān: swift/impetuous
• vegavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vega-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; possessive adjective (मतुप्/वतुप्) qualifying īśaḥ/maheśvaraḥ

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• pāśupatam: Pāśupata (of Paśupati)
• pāśupatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying śaram

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• kālarūpī: assuming the form of Time (Death)
• kālarūpī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: kālasya rūpaṃ yasya (having the form of Time/Death)

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheśvara (Great Lord)
• maheśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Karmadhāraya: mahān īśvaraḥ

Speakers

• Narrative layer not explicitly given in input (commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa framing)

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Īśa/Maheśvara/Paśupati)
• Yajña (as the pursued deer, from prior verse)

Key Themes

• Śaiva martial iconography
• Pāśupata weapon
• Time (Kāla) as divine power
• Restoration of ritual order

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine ‘punishment’ here functions as correction: when dharma (ritual order) is threatened, the deity’s power appears as decisive restraint, reminding rulers and priests alike that sacred acts require protection and accountability.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Episode-level deity-carita (narrative theology) used as a didactic exemplum; it is not cosmogenesis but a dharma-supporting myth embedded in the Purāṇic discourse.

What is the symbolic significance?

Kālarūpa indicates that Time itself is the deity’s instrument: all disorder is ultimately ‘caught’ by Kāla. The Pāśupata arrow symbolizes irresistible, dharma-enforcing divine will rather than ordinary violence.