Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणो मध्यतो देहाञ्जातो मरकतप्रभः ख दरः कण्टकी श्रेयानभवद्विश्वकर्मणः

Transliteration

brahmaṇo madhyato dehāñjāto marakataprabhaḥ kha daraḥ kaṇṭakī śreyānabhavadviśvakarmaṇaḥ

Translation

Del centro del cuerpo de Brahmā surgió el árbol khadira, resplandeciente como una esmeralda; es espinoso, y llegó a ser especialmente excelente para Viśvakarman.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā / of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• मध्यतः: from the middle
• मध्यतः: अपादान (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त), adverb of place — ‘from the middle’

• देहान्: bodies
• देहान्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• जातः: was born/was produced
• जातः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject, predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — ‘born/produced’ (past passive participle used predicatively)

• मरकत-प्रभः: emerald-lustrous
• मरकत-प्रभः: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मरकत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मरकतस्य प्रभा इव/मरकतप्रभः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• खदरः: the khadira tree (Acacia catechu)
• खदरः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• कण्टकी: thorny
• कण्टकी: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कण्टकिन्/कण्टकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; ‘thorny’

• श्रेयान्: better, superior
• श्रेयान्: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; comparative (तरप्-अर्थ) ‘better/superior’

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: क्रिया (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘became/was’

• विश्वकर्मणः: of Viśvakarman
• विश्वकर्मणः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Genitive singular

Speakers

• Not specified in input (often Pulastya → Nārada frame
• not asserted here)

Primary Deities

• Brahmā
• Viśvakarman

Key Themes

• Purāṇic etiologies (origins of sacred materials)
• Ritual materials / sacred woods
• Cosmic creation imagery (Brahmā’s body as source)
• Craft and dharma of making (Viśvakarman)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The cosmos is portrayed as ethically ‘usable’ for dharmic purposes: materials (like sacred woods) are not merely natural resources but carry a sanctified pedigree, encouraging reverent, restrained, and purposeful use—especially in ritual and righteous craftsmanship.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily sarga (origination/emanation) in an etiological register: it explains how a specific entity (khadira) arose and acquired divine association (with Viśvakarman).

What is the symbolic significance?

Emerald-luster suggests purity and auspicious brilliance; thorniness can signify protective power. Its special excellence ‘for Viśvakarman’ links sacred matter to sacred making—architecture, icons, and ritual implements become extensions of cosmic order rather than mere human art.