Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 31

Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Origin of Kapalin Rudra (Pulastya–Narada Dialogue)

Devanagari script

पराजिते लोकपतौ देवेन परमेष्षिना क्रोधान्धकारितं रुद्रं पञ्चमो ऽथ मुखो ऽब्रोवीत्

Transliteration

parājite lokapatau devena parameṣṣinā krodhāndhakāritaṃ rudraṃ pañcamo 'tha mukho 'brovīt

Translation

Lorsque le seigneur des mondes eut été vaincu par le Dieu suprême, le cinquième visage s’adressa à Rudra, que la colère avait assombri (comme aveuglé).

Word by Word

• parājite: when (he) was defeated
• parājite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parājita (कृदन्त, parā-√ji जि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त/क्त; ‘when (he) was defeated’ (locative absolute with lokapatau)

• lokapatau: in/when the lord of the worlds (was...)
• lokapatau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी) ‘लोकानां पतिः’ = lord of the worlds; locative absolute with parājite

• devena: by the god
• devena: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• parameṣṭhinā: by Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā)
• parameṣṭhinā: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (Brahmā as ‘parameṣṭhin’)

• krodhāndhakāritam: blinded/darkened by anger
• krodhāndhakāritam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + andhakārita (कृदन्त, √kṛ कृ with causative sense)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (तृतीया) ‘क्रोधेन अन्धकारितम्’ = darkened/blinded by anger; कृदन्तः क्त (made dark)

• rudram: Rudra
• rudram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pañcamaḥ: the fifth
• pañcamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक निपात (then/now)

• mukhaḥ: face/mouth
• mukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to pañcamaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रायः), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र पुंवत्-प्रयोगः (as ‘face’ personified)

• abrovīt: said/spoke
• abrovīt: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• The ‘fifth face’ (pañcama-mukha) speaking to Rudra; overarching narration likely within Pulastya–Nārada frame (not explicit in input)

Primary Deities

• Rudra (Śiva)
• Parameṣṭhin/Parameśin (Supreme Lord; identification context-dependent)

Key Themes

• Shaiva-Vaishnava Synthesis
• Divine hierarchy and reconciliation
• Anger and its obscuring effect
• Cosmic governance

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Anger is portrayed as ‘darkness’ that eclipses discernment even in exalted beings; cosmic order is restored through higher counsel rather than escalation.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This aligns most closely with pratisarga/secondary cosmic ordering and devasura-related narration (rakṣā/saṃsthā), rather than sarga alone; it situates a deity’s function within the maintained cosmos.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘fifth face’ motif suggests a regulating, higher perspective that restrains destructive fury; it also supports the Purāṇic theme that divine powers are coordinated within a single cosmic sovereignty.