Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 7

Sukeshi’s Inquiry into Dharma: The Seven Dvipas and the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

रथं सारथिना सार्धं साश्वध्वजसकूबम् भस्म कृत्वाथ कुलिशमन्धकं समुपाययौ

Transliteration

rathaṃ sārathinā sārdhaṃ sāśvadhvajasakūbam bhasma kṛtvātha kuliśamandhakaṃ samupāyayau

Translation

Après avoir réduit en cendres le char—avec son cocher, les chevaux, l’étendard et le timon—, il s’avança vers Andhaka, tenant le kuliśa (l’arme de la foudre).

Word by Word

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• sārathinā: with the charioteer / by the charioteer
• sārathinā: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdha (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), सहार्थक-अव्यय (comitative particle)

• sa-aśva-dhvaja-sa-kūbam: (the chariot) having horses, a banner, and a pole/yoke
• sa-aśva-dhvaja-sa-kūbam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + sa (अव्यय) + kūba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (possessive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter) / द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रथम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• bhasma: ashes
• bhasma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as result-object)

• kṛtvā: having made (into)
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/सम्बन्धसूचक (then/now)

• kuliśa-mandhakam: Andhaka (struck) by the thunderbolt / ‘Kuliśa-Andhaka’
• kuliśa-mandhakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuliśa (प्रातिपदिक) + andhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative; ‘kuliśa’ as qualifier), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• samupāyayau: approached / went up to
• samupāyayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√i (धातु) with sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (inferred continuation)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Astra warfare
• Andhaka episode (daitya antagonism)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The collapse of the chariot retinue (vehicle, driver, horses, insignia) highlights the fragility of external supports and status-symbols in conflict; only inner resolve and dharma-aligned power endure.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita/Vamśānucarita: a combat-focused narrative segment within the broader purāṇic history/legend cycles rather than sarga/pratisarga.

What is the symbolic significance?

Reducing the chariot complex to ash symbolizes the annihilation of ego-structures (ratha as embodied apparatus) before confronting the core adversary (Andhaka). The kuliśa/vajra motif signifies irresistible, dharma-charged potency.