Vamana Purana — Prahlada vs Nara-Narayana, Shloka 15

Prahlada’s Defeat by Nara-Narayana and Victory through Bhakti

Devanagari script

आयाता शशिनो नूनमियं कान्तिर्निशाक्षये रविरश्मिप्रतापार्तिभीता शरणमागता

Transliteration

āyātā śaśino nūnamiyaṃ kāntirniśākṣaye raviraśmipratāpārtibhītā śaraṇamāgatā

Translation

Assurément, cette clarté de la lune est venue à la fin de la nuit, effrayée par la brûlure des rayons du soleil, et elle a cherché refuge.

Word by Word

• आयाता: having come
• आयाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘आ-या’ धातोः—आगतवती/आगता (having come)

• शशिनः: of the moon
• शशिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive—of the moon

• नूनम्: surely, indeed
• नूनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (particle/adverb of certainty)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun—this

• कान्तिः: radiance, lustre
• कान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; radiance/splendour

• निशा-क्षये: at night’s end
• निशा-क्षये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-समर्थ): ‘निशायाः क्षयः’/‘निशायां क्षये’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative—at the end of night

• रवि-रश्मि-प्रताप-आर्ति-भीता: frightened by the torment of the sun’s rays’ heat
• रवि-रश्मि-प्रताप-आर्ति-भीता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक) + रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रताप (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + भीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; अन्तिमपदम् ‘भीत’ (भि धातोः क्त) विशेषणरूपेण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘रविरश्मिप्रतापेन आर्त्या भीता’—frightened due to distress from sun-ray heat

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative—refuge (as goal)

• आगता: arrived, came
• आगता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘आ-गम्’—having come/arrived

Speakers

• Narrative voice (within the larger Pulastya–Nārada framework; direct speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Key Themes

• Poetic simile (upamā) for beauty
• Light imagery (moon vs sun)
• Śaraṇāgati motif used metaphorically

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse uses aesthetic imagery to show how perception mythologizes beauty: it turns a person’s charm into cosmic radiance. Ethically, it continues the warning that fascination can eclipse discernment, as the mind poetically ‘explains’ attraction.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Alaṅkāra-rich narrative segment (supporting ākhyāna) rather than a pancalakṣaṇa core (sarga, pratisarga, etc.). It is embedded didactic poetry within Purāṇic storytelling.

What is the symbolic significance?

Moonlight ‘seeking refuge’ from sunlight symbolizes delicate allure withdrawing before harsh clarity—i.e., the enchanting quality of night-like fascination fading when the ‘sun’ of wakeful discrimination rises.