Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

धनुष्पाणिर्महाबाहुर्बाणशक्तिधरो ऽव्ययः चतुर्भुजो महातूणी आदित्यसमदर्शनः

Transliteration

dhanuṣpāṇirmahābāhurbāṇaśaktidharo 'vyayaḥ caturbhujo mahātūṇī ādityasamadarśanaḥ

Translation

L’arc en main, aux grands bras, portant flèches et lance, infaillible; à quatre bras, muni d’un grand carquois, et d’un éclat semblable au Soleil.

Word by Word

• धनुष्पाणिः: having a bow in hand
• धनुष्पाणिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धनुषः पाणिः)

• महाबाहुः: mighty-armed
• महाबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् बाहुः)

• बाणशक्तिधरः: bearing arrows and spear
• बाणशक्तिधरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ धातु, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बाणशक्ती धारयति इति)

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चतुर्भुजः: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगुः (चत्वारः भुजाः यस्य)

• महातूणी: having a great quiver
• महातूणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तूणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती तूणी)

• आदित्यसमदर्शनः: having a sun-like appearance
• आदित्यसमदर्शनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आदित्येन समं दर्शनं यस्य)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Purana (likely within Pulastya–Nārada frame; specific speaker not explicit in the given excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Brahma (as creator of the being)

Key Themes

• Divine iconography
• Martial protection of dharma
• Solar radiance symbolism
• Emanated guardian figure

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power is depicted as structured and purposeful: weapons, multiple arms, and ‘unfailing’ nature indicate capability directed toward a task, not chaos. The sun-like radiance (āditya) evokes clarity and the dispelling of disorder.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily episodic narration (Vamśānucarita-style) with a sarga-like descriptive insert: it details the form and attributes of a being produced for cosmic enforcement.

What is the symbolic significance?

Four arms and solar appearance are conventional markers of superhuman authority, bridging human-like ‘puruṣa’ language with divine iconography. The great quiver and multiple weapons suggest inexhaustible readiness—an archetype of dharma’s protective force manifesting in the world.