Vamana Purana — Prahlada vs Nara-Narayana, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

स ददर्श ततो ऽदूरात्कृष्णाजिनधरौ मुनी समुन्नतजटाभारौ तपस्यासक्तमानसौ

Transliteration

sa dadarśa tato 'dūrātkṛṣṇājinadharau munī samunnatajaṭābhārau tapasyāsaktamānasau

Translation

Alors, non loin de là, il vit deux munis revêtus de peaux d’antilope noire, portant haut leurs masses de cheveux emmêlés, l’esprit entièrement absorbé dans l’austérité (tapas).

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then; from there
• ततः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Temporal-Local)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे—‘then/from there’

• अदूरात्: from nearby; not far away
• अदूरात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अदूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (ablatival adverbial use); ‘from not far’

• कृष्णाजिनधरौ: the two wearers of black antelope-skins
• कृष्णाजिनधरौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णाजिन + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); समासः—कृष्णाजिनं धरतीति (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः)

• मुनी: two sages
• मुनी: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• समुन्नतजटाभारौ: having lofty masses of matted hair
• समुन्नतजटाभारौ: कर्म (Karma/Object; adjectival to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुन्नत + जटा + भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषणम् (adjective) ‘मुनी’ इत्यस्य; समासः—समुन्नतः जटाभारः यस्य (तत्पुरुष)

• तपस्यासक्तमानसौ: whose minds were attached to austerity
• तपस्यासक्तमानसौ: कर्म (Karma/Object; adjectival to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्या + आसक्त + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषणम् ‘मुनी’; समासः—तपस्यायाम् आसक्तं मानसं यस्य (तत्पुरुष)

Speakers

• Narrative layer not explicit in the given excerpt (commonly Pulastya ↔ Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa).

Key Themes

• Tapas (austerity)
• Ascetic iconography
• Transition from martial to spiritual encounter

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purāṇic narratives often pivot from force to counsel: the appearance of tapasvin sages signals that dharma is ultimately guided by spiritual authority and inner discipline rather than mere martial prowess.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita-style episode development: introduction of munis as agents of guidance/curse/boon is a standard narrative device within genealogical-historical narration (vamśānucarita).

What is the symbolic significance?

Kṛṣṇājina and jaṭā are markers of Vedic-ascetic legitimacy; the ‘raised matted hair’ and absorbed minds indicate accumulated tapas-śakti, a counterforce to daitya krodha and a potential turning point in the episode.