Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

संक्षुब्धस्तपसा ताभ्यां क्षोभमणाय शतक्रतुः रम्भाद्याप्सरसः श्रेष्ठाः प्रेषयत्स महाश्रमम्

Transliteration

saṃkṣubdhastapasā tābhyāṃ kṣobhamaṇāya śatakratuḥ rambhādyāpsarasaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ preṣayatsa mahāśramam

Translation

Ébranlé par l’austérité de ces deux-là, Śatakratu (Indra), voulant semer le trouble, envoya les plus éminentes apsaras, à commencer par Rambhā, vers le grand ermitage.

Word by Word

• संक्षुब्धः: agitated, disturbed
• संक्षुब्धः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + क्षुभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शतक्रतुः)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ताभ्याम्: by those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (द्वयोः), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; ‘by those two’ (i.e., the two sages)

• क्षोभमणाय: for (their) disturbance/agitation
• क्षोभमणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षोभ + मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (kṣobhasya maṇaḥ/hetuḥ = for causing agitation)

• शतक्रतुः: Śatakratu (Indra)
• शतक्रतुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतक्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (he whose rites are a hundred = Indra)

• रम्भाद्याः: beginning with Rambhā
• रम्भाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्भा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (rambhā-ādi = beginning with Rambhā)

• अप्सरसः: Apsarases (celestial nymphs)
• अप्सरसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• श्रेष्ठाः: the best/excellent
• श्रेष्ठाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अप्सरसः)

• प्रेषयत्: sent
• प्रेषयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + इष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महाश्रमम्: to the great hermitage
• महाश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of sending)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great hermitage)

Speakers

• Dialogue framework not specified in the provided excerpt.

Primary Deities

• Indra (Śatakratu)
• Rambhā (apsaras)
• Nara
• Nārāyaṇa

Key Themes

• Tapas vs temptation
• Indra’s political anxiety
• Apsaras as instruments of distraction
• Ethics of self-control

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse critiques the insecure use of pleasure as a weapon: temptation becomes a tool of control. It also implies a dharmic hierarchy—spiritual integrity (tapas) should not be sabotaged by those invested in status.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Narrative/Carita material (often grouped under vamśānucarita in broad cataloging). It is not a cosmological creation segment but a didactic episode illustrating the power of austerity and the gods’ reactions.

What is the symbolic significance?

Apsarases symbolize sensory allure and the mind’s outward pull. Indra symbolizes the ‘ruling function’ that fears being dethroned by inner realization—an allegory for the ego defending its dominion.