Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

महेश्वर महेशान सुपर्णाक्ष वृषाकपे दक्षयज्ञक्षयकर कालरूप नमो ऽस्तु ते

Transliteration

maheśvara maheśāna suparṇākṣa vṛṣākape dakṣayajñakṣayakara kālarūpa namo 'stu te

Translation

Ô Maheśvara, ô Maheśāna ; ô Suparṇākṣa, ô Vṛṣākapi ; ô destructeur du sacrifice de Dakṣa ; ô Toi dont la forme est le Temps : hommage à Toi.

Word by Word

• महेश्वर: O Great Lord
• महेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; 'महान् ईश्वरः'

• महेशान: O Great Ruler (Īśāna)
• महेशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; 'महान् ईशानः'

• सुपर्ण-अक्ष: O bird-eyed one
• सुपर्ण-अक्ष: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्यान्ते सुपर्णवत् अक्षी' (having eyes like Garuḍa/bird)

• वृषा-कपे: O Vṛṣākapi (epithet of Śiva)
• वृषा-कपे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषा (प्रातिपदिक) + कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (epithet)

• दक्ष-यज्ञ-क्षय-कर: O destroyer of Dakṣa’s sacrifice
• दक्ष-यज्ञ-क्षय-कर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'दक्षस्य यज्ञस्य क्षयः तं करोति'

• काल-रूप: O one whose form is Time
• काल-रूप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; 'कालस्य रूपम्'

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय; नमस्कारार्थ

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) एकवचन; सर्वनाम; सम्बन्ध (to you/your)

Speakers

• Narrative voice quoting a stuti within Pulastya’s narration (Pulastya → Nārada frame implied by Adhyaya context)

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Bhakti
• Sectarian Harmony
• Theology of Time (Kāla)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames Śiva as both beneficent lord and cosmic dissolver (kāla-rūpa). Devotional praise here is grounded in acknowledging the divine governance of creation and dissolution, encouraging humility before cosmic law (dharma) and impermanence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under Vamśānucarita/Carita-style narrative material (episode description and praise within a story), not a primary cosmogonic sarga. It functions as theological stuti embedded in an itihāsa-like episode.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Destroyer of Dakṣa’s sacrifice’ symbolizes the correction of ritualism divorced from devotion and right intent. ‘Time-form’ signifies Śiva as the transcendent regulator before whom even sacrificial power yields.