Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

तत्रैको जलमध्यस्थो द्वितीयो ऽप्यग्निपञ्चमी करम्भश्चैव रम्भश्च यक्षं मालपटं प्रति

Transliteration

tatraiko jalamadhyastho dvitīyo 'pyagnipañcamī karambhaścaiva rambhaśca yakṣaṃ mālapaṭaṃ prati

Translation

Allí, uno permanecía en medio del agua, mientras el segundo observaba la austeridad del “fuego” (agnipañcamī). Y eran Karambha y Rambha, dirigidos contra el Yakṣa llamado Mālapaṭa.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb): ‘there’

• एकः: one (of them)
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जलमध्यस्थः: standing in the middle of water
• जलमध्यस्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल + मध्य + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (जले मध्यं तत्र स्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; एकः इति विशेषण

• द्वितीयः: the second (one)
• द्वितीयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रमवाचक (ordinal), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक अव्यय (particle: ‘also’)

• अग्निपञ्चमी: (observing) Agni-pañcamī (fire-related fifth-day rite)
• अग्निपञ्चमी: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + पञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अग्निः पञ्चमी यस्य/यत्र—ritual/observance name), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वितीयः इति समानाधिकरण

• करम्भः: Karambha
• करम्भः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphasis)

• रम्भः: Rambha
• रम्भः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• यक्षम्: a Yakṣa
• यक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• मालपटम्: Mālapaṭa (named Yakṣa)
• मालपटम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल + पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (मालायाः पटः/मालापटः—proper name), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यक्षम् इति विशेषण/नाम

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Gati/Direction (गति/दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय/कर्मप्रवचनीय (preposition): ‘towards’

Speakers

• Narrative frame likely Pulastya → Nārada (not explicit in input)

Primary Deities

• Indra (Vāsava) (appears next verse as actor)

Key Themes

• Tapas (austerity varieties)
• Daitya activity
• Conflict with Yakṣa
• Tirtha practice

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Austerity is portrayed as technique-like—different disciplines (water-immersion, fire-observance) pursued for specific aims. The verse also hints that tapas can be weaponized (‘prati’), reminding that inner power without dharmic orientation tends toward conflict.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita (accounts of beings and their acts), with incidental Manvantara-style divine polity (Devas responding to threats) beginning to emerge.

What is the symbolic significance?

Water and fire austerities together symbolize mastery over opposing elements. Naming the Yakṣa adversary situates the episode within a layered cosmos where Asuras, Yakṣas, and Devas contend for influence over sacred spaces.