Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

प्रदह्यमानौ चरणौ दृष्ट्वासौ कुसुमायुधः उत्ससर्ज धनुः श्रेष्ठं तज्जगामाथ पञ्चधा

Transliteration

pradahyamānau caraṇau dṛṣṭvāsau kusumāyudhaḥ utsasarja dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ tajjagāmātha pañcadhā

Translation

Voyant ses pieds en feu, celui dont l’arme est faite de fleurs (Kāma) lâcha son arc excellent ; et celui-ci se brisa alors en cinq morceaux.

Word by Word

• प्रदह्यमानौ: being burnt / burning
• प्रदह्यमानौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दह् (धातु) → प्रदह्यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• चरणौ: (two) feet
• चरणौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund/absolutive), अव्यय

• असौ: he (that one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कुसुमायुधः: Kusumāyudha (Kāma, whose weapon is flowers)
• कुसुमायुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुसुमम् एव आयुधं यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उत्ससर्ज: released / let go
• उत्ससर्ज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent / best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धनुः)

• तत्: that (bow)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (धनुः इत्यस्य पुनर्निर्देशः)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/now)

• पञ्चधा: into five parts
• पञ्चधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्चधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (in five ways/into five parts)

Speakers

• Unspecified in the provided excerpt (likely within Pulastya–Nārada narrative frame)

Primary Deities

• Shiva
• Kama (Madana)

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Defeat of desire
• Symbolic disarmament
• Tapas versus temptation

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When inner discipline is awakened (tapas/jñāna), the instruments of temptation lose their power; the ‘bow’ of desire is rendered ineffective.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita-focused narration (divine/daiva event description), not sarga/pratisarga; it functions as exemplum within the Purāṇic storytelling layer.

What is the symbolic significance?

The flower-bow breaking into five evokes the five sense-channels (pañcendriya) through which desire operates; the shattering signifies sensory subjugation under higher yogic fire.