Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 23
Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)
प्रासे छिन्ने ततो दैत्यः शक्तिमादाय चिक्षिपे तां च चिच्छेद बलवान् क्षुरप्रेण महातपाः
prāse chinne tato daityaḥ śaktimādāya cikṣipe tāṃ ca ciccheda balavān kṣurapreṇa mahātapāḥ
Lorsque le javelot (prāsa) fut tranché, le Daitya prit une śakti et la lança. Le puissant grand ascète la coupa à son tour d’une flèche au tranchant de rasoir (kṣurapra).
{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
Escalation of force is shown as futile against dharmic, divinely-guided power; the narrative emphasizes that mere weaponry (external strength) cannot prevail over a protector aligned with cosmic order (dharma).
This is part of Vaṃśānucarita/Carita-style narrative material (accounts of gods, demons, and their conflicts) rather than sarga/pratisarga; it functions as exemplary history within the Purāṇic storytelling framework.
The cutting down of successive weapons symbolizes the limitation of aggressive will (daitya-pravṛtti) when confronted by disciplined, higher power (tapas/tejas). The 'razor-arrow' motif often signifies discriminative force that severs adharma.