Vamana Purana — Narada Questions Pulastya, Shloka 16

Narada Questions Pulastya: The Vamana Purana Begins and Satī’s Monsoon Lament

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा दक्षतनुजा प्रावृट्कालमुपस्थितम् प्रोवाच वाक्यं देवेशं सती सप्रणयं तदा

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā dakṣatanujā prāvṛṭkālamupasthitam provāca vākyaṃ deveśaṃ satī sapraṇayaṃ tadā

Translation

Voyant que la saison des pluies (prāvṛṭ) était arrivée, Satī, fille de Dakṣa, adressa alors avec tendresse des paroles au Seigneur des dieux, Maheśvara.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्-धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• दक्ष-तनुजा: Dakṣa’s daughter (Satī)
• दक्ष-तनुजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tanujā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dakṣasya tanujā)

• प्रावृट्-कालम्: the rainy season-time
• प्रावृट्-कालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāvṛṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (prāvṛṭyāḥ kālaḥ)

• उपस्थितम्: arrived, present
• उपस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-sthā (स्था-धातु)
• Form: कृत (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘arrived/present’ (agreeing with प्रावृट्कालम्)

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke
• प्रोवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (वच्-धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: a speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवेशम्: to the Lord of gods
• देवेशम्: Sampradāna/Prati (सम्प्रदान/प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devānām īśaḥ)

• सती: Satī
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• स-प्रणयम्: with affection
• स-प्रणयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थ) + praṇaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (सह प्रणयेन) — ‘with affection’ (qualifying वाक्यम्)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speakers

• Satī addressing Maheśvara (Śiva)

Primary Deities

• Śiva
• Satī

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Domestic/relational dharma
• Portentous atmosphere
• Seasonal cycle in Purāṇic narration

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames sacred narrative within ordinary time (ṛtu/season), implying that dharma and divine discourse unfold within cosmic order (ṛta). Satī’s affectionate address also humanizes the divine, presenting devotion and intimacy as valid modes of approaching Īśvara.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily within Vamśānucarita/Carita-style narrative (episodes of deities and their relations), rather than sarga/pratisarga. It is a contextual bridge setting up dialogue and ensuing description.

What is the symbolic significance?

Prāvṛṭ (first rains) often signals transition and emotional intensification in kāvya and Purāṇic storytelling—an external mirror to inner movement. Satī’s ‘sapraṇaya’ indicates that divine truth is conveyed not only through austerity but also through loving speech.