Vamana Purana — Prahlada vs Nara-Narayana, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

ततो नरस्त्वाजगवं हि चापमानम्य बाणान् सुबहुञ्शिताग्रान् मुमोच तानप्रतिमैः पृषत्कैश्चिच्छेद दैत्यस्तपनीयपुङ्खैः

Transliteration

tato narastvājagavaṃ hi cāpamānamya bāṇān subahuñśitāgrān mumoca tānapratimaiḥ pṛṣatkaiściccheda daityastapanīyapuṅkhaiḥ

Translation

Alors Nara, courbant son arc Ājagava, décocha de nombreuses flèches aux pointes acérées ; mais le Daitya les trancha avec des traits incomparables, dont les hampes étaient garnies de plumes d’or.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb

• naraḥ: Nara
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adversative particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक)

• ājagavam: the Ājagava (bow)
• ājagavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājagava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; proper name of a bow

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic/causal particle (हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक)

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; in apposition to ājagavam

• ānamya: having bent/drawn
• ānamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā absolutive (क्त्वा), with ā-; ‘having bent/drawn (the bow)’

• bāṇān: arrows
• bāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• su-bahūn: very many
• su-bahūn: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana; agrees with bāṇān

• śita-agrān: sharp-pointed
• śita-agrān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana; agrees with bāṇān

• mumoca: released/shot
• mumoca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana

• tān: those (arrows)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana; refers to bāṇān

• apratimaiḥ: unmatched
• apratimaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apratima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahu-vacana; agrees with pṛṣatkaiḥ

• pṛṣatkaiḥ: with darts/arrows
• pṛṣatkaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣatka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahu-vacana

• ciccheda: cut (them)
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana

• daityaḥ: the Daitya (demon)
• daityaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• tapanīya-puṅkhaiḥ: with golden-feathered (shafts)
• tapanīya-puṅkhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapanīya + puṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahu-vacana; agrees with pṛṣatkaiḥ

Speakers

• Narrator voice (frame not explicit in excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (as Nārāyaṇa / Nara–Nārāyaṇa)

Key Themes

• Daitya–Deva Conflict
• Martial skill (dhanurveda imagery)
• Contest of prowess
• Protection of dharma

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even righteous effort meets resistance; perseverance and skill must accompany virtue. The verse shows the reality of opposition in dharmic struggle—progress is not linear, and obstacles can be formidable.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / carita: a heroic episode illustrating the deeds of exalted beings (Nara) and their adversaries, used to convey dharmic ideals through narrative conflict.

What is the symbolic significance?

Nara’s many sharp arrows represent focused disciplines (tapas, viveka, dharma-prayoga), while the Daitya’s golden-fletched counter-missiles signify seductive, brilliant-looking counterforces (wealth/power/ego) that can ‘cut down’ resolve unless steadiness deepens.