Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 17

Nara-Narayana’s Tapas, Indra’s Temptation, and the Burning of Kama: The Origin of Ananga and the Shiva-Linga Episode

Devanagari script

रक्ताशोककरा तन्वी देवर्षे किशुकाङ्घ्रिका नीलाशोककचा श्यामा विकासिकमलानना

Transliteration

raktāśokakarā tanvī devarṣe kiśukāṅghrikā nīlāśokakacā śyāmā vikāsikamalānanā

Translation

Ô sage divin, elle est svelte ; ses mains sont comme les fleurs de l’aśoka rouge ; ses pieds, comme les fleurs du kiśuka (palāśa). Sa chevelure est comme l’aśoka d’un bleu sombre ; son teint est foncé, et son visage tel un lotus pleinement épanoui.

Word by Word

• रक्त-अशोक-करा: having hands like red aśoka blossoms
• रक्त-अशोक-करा: विशेष्य (Predicate adjective of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘रक्ताशोकौ करौ यस्याः’ (she whose hands are like red aśoka)

• तन्वी: slender
• तन्वी: विशेष्य (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तन्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• देवर्षे: O divine sage
• देवर्षे: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• किशुक-अङ्घ्रिका: having feet like kiṃśuka blossoms
• किशुक-अङ्घ्रिका: विशेष्य (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंशुक/किशुक (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + का (स्त्री-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘किशुकसदृशौ अङ्घ्री यस्याः’ (she whose feet are like kiṃśuka)

• नील-अशोक-कचा: having hair like blue aśoka
• नील-अशोक-कचा: विशेष्य (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + अशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + कच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘नीलाशोकसदृशाः कचाः यस्याः’ (she whose hair is like blue aśoka)

• श्यामा: dark-complexioned
• श्यामा: विशेष्य (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विकासि-कमल-आनना: having a face like a blooming lotus
• विकासि-कमल-आनना: विशेष्य (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकासिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कमल (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘विकासिकमलसदृशम् आननम् यस्याः’ (she whose face is like a blooming lotus)

Speakers

• Narrative frame typically Pulastya → Nārada (exact speaker not explicit in provided excerpt)

Key Themes

• Sacred description (stuti/varṇana)
• Auspicious feminine iconography
• Poetic nature-imagery

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The passage models a Purāṇic aesthetic: perceiving the sacred through auspicious natural forms. Ethically, it cultivates reverence (śraddhā) and refined attention (bhāva) by linking beauty with divinity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classed under ancillary narrative/description within a māhātmya context rather than the core pañcalakṣaṇa topics; broadly it aligns with purāṇic upabṛṃhaṇa (devotional and descriptive expansion) supporting tīrtha-māhātmya.

What is the symbolic significance?

Aśoka, kiśuka, and lotus are auspicious markers: aśoka suggests removal of sorrow (a-śoka), lotus indicates purity and spiritual unfolding, and the dark hue (śyāmā) often signals divine depth/attractiveness in classical iconography.