Vamana Purana — Sati's Death & Virabhadra, Shloka 45

Sati’s Death and the Assault on Daksha’s Sacrifice: Virabhadra versus the Devas

Devanagari script

तानस्त्रान्वासुदेवेन प्रक्षिप्तान्गणनायकः वारयामास शूलेन गदया मार्गणैस्तथा

Transliteration

tānastrānvāsudevena prakṣiptāngaṇanāyakaḥ vārayāmāsa śūlena gadayā mārgaṇaistathā

Translation

Aquellas armas arrojadas por Vāsudeva fueron rechazadas por el caudillo de los gaṇas, valiéndose del tridente, de la maza y también de flechas.

Word by Word

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); pronominal adjective to astrān

• astrān: weapons/missiles
• astrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vāsudevena: by Vāsudeva
• vāsudevena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prakṣiptān: thrown/cast
• prakṣiptān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√kṣip (धातु) + prakṣipta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying astrān

• gaṇanāyakaḥ: leader of the gaṇas (Gaṇeśa)
• gaṇanāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa + nāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: gaṇānāṃ nāyakaḥ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vārayāmāsa: warded off/prevented
• vārayāmāsa: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Causative verb; Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• śūlena: with a trident/spear
• śūlena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gadayā: with a mace
• gadayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mārgaṇaiḥ: with arrows
• mārgaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Speakers

• Narratorial verse within the Purāṇic dialogue framework (speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Vāsudeva)
• Śiva-associated forces (gaṇa-nāyaka; Vīrabhadra context)

Key Themes

• Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis
• Divine combat as theological metaphor
• Astra-śastra interplay (mantric weapons vs. physical weapons)
• Power parity between sectarian deities

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames conflict as controlled and rule-bound: even divine force meets an answering force. Ethically, it cautions against absolutizing one’s power; spiritually, it suggests that divine agencies operate in balance rather than chaotic domination.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita/Vamśānucarita-type narration: a descriptive action sequence in a mythic episode, not directly sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa cataloguing.

What is the symbolic significance?

The gaṇa-leader countering astras with śūla, gadā, and arrows symbolizes the equivalence and complementarity of Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava powers. The ‘blocking’ motif supports the Purāṇa’s tendency toward sectarian harmony: neither side is portrayed as trivially overpowering the other.