Shloka 38

Daitya–Dānava Vaṁśa, Kaśyapa’s Progeny, and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

वज्रपाणिर् महागर्भं तं चिच्छेदाथ सप्तधा स पाट्यमानो वज्रेण प्ररुरोदातिदारुणम्

Transliteration

vajrapāṇir mahāgarbhaṃ taṃ cicchedātha saptadhā sa pāṭyamāno vajreṇa prarurodātidāruṇam

Translation

Then Vajrapāṇi (Indra), wielding the vajra, struck Mahāgarbha and cleft him into seven parts. Torn by the thunderbolt, he cried out with a dread beyond measure.

Word by Word

• वज्रपाणिः: Vajrapāṇi (Indra, ‘he whose hand holds the thunderbolt’)
• वज्रपाणिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वज्रस्य पाणिः)

• महागर्भम्: the great embryo
• महागर्भम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् गर्भः)

• तम्: him/that (embryo)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चिच्छेद: cut/split
• चिच्छेद: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/सम्बन्ध-बोधक (then/thereupon)

• सप्तधा: sevenfold
• सप्तधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सप्तधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in seven parts)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पाट्यमानः: being split/cut
• पाट्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; of praruroda)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पट् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वज्रेण: with the thunderbolt
• वज्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• प्ररुरोद: cried out
• प्ररुरोद: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः प्र-

• अतिदारुणम्: very terribly
• अतिदारुणम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial accusative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (अतिशयेन दारुणम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Vajrapāṇi)
• Mahāgarbha

FAQs

What is the significance of Vajrapāṇi (Indra) splitting Mahāgarbha into seven parts in the Vishnu Purana?

It dramatizes the reassertion of cosmic order: the vajra represents divinely sanctioned sovereignty, and the demon’s fragmentation signals the breaking of disruptive power that threatens dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of the devas in maintaining universal order?

Through narrative exemplars like Indra’s act here, Parāśara shows devas as functional administrators of order—whose victories ultimately align with Vishnu’s higher, sustaining rule over the cosmos.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context, even though Vishnu is not named in the verse?

The episode reflects a Vaishnava Purāṇic frame where divine power and rightful rule operate under Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty, with Indra acting as an instrument of that overarching cosmic governance.