Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 2

Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Origin of Kapalin Rudra (Pulastya–Narada Dialogue)

Devanagari script

त्यजन्ति नीलाम्बुधरा नभस्तलं वृक्षांश्च कङ्काः सरितस्तटानि पद्माः सुगन्धं निलयानि वायसा रुरुर्विषाणं कलुषं जलाशयः

Transliteration

tyajanti nīlāmbudharā nabhastalaṃ vṛkṣāṃśca kaṅkāḥ saritastaṭāni padmāḥ sugandhaṃ nilayāni vāyasā rururviṣāṇaṃ kaluṣaṃ jalāśayaḥ

Translation

黒き雨雲は天空の広がりを去り、鷺は木々を離れて川の岸辺に集う。蓮は芳香を放ち、烏はねぐらへと帰る。鹿の角は明らかに見え、水の溜まりは濁りを帯びる。

Word by Word

• tyajanti: leave / abandon
• tyajanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• nīla-ambudharāḥ: dark clouds
• nīla-ambudharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + ambudhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः — “नीलाः अम्बुधराः” (dark cloud-bearers)

• nabhas-talam: the sky-surface / firmament
• nabhas-talam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — “नभसः तलम्”

• vṛkṣān: trees
• vṛkṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक

• kaṅkāḥ: herons
• kaṅkāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• saritaḥ: rivers
• saritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• taṭāni: banks
• taṭāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• padmāḥ: lotuses
• padmāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• su-gandham: sweet fragrance
• su-gandham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — “सुगन्धः” (fragrance)

• nilayāni: abodes / nests
• nilayāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nilaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• vāyasāḥ: crows
• vāyasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ruruḥ: Ruru (a deer/antelope)
• ruruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ruru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viṣāṇam: horn
• viṣāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kaluṣam: muddy / turbid
• kaluṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaluṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जलाशयम् इति विशेषणम्

• jalāśayaḥ: pond / water-reservoir
• jalāśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — “जलस्य आशयः” (reservoir of water)

Speakers

• Pulastya (continuing the seasonal narration)

Key Themes

• Seasonal cosmology
• Natural observation in Purāṇic style
• Auspicious time-markers

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purāṇic dharma is lived in attentiveness: observing seasonal changes is a way to recognize order (ṛta) and choose proper times for ritual, travel, agriculture, and worship. The verse trains perception—seeing the world as patterned rather than random.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It is ancillary descriptive material supporting Ākhyāna (narrative setting). It does not directly present sarga/pratisarga/vamśa/manvantara/vamśānucarita, but it contextualizes the narrative time.

What is the symbolic significance?

The retreat of clouds and the emergence of clear markers (like the deer’s horn) symbolize the lifting of obscuration. Turbidity of water-reservoirs can simultaneously indicate residual seasonal disturbance—clarity and impurity co-exist, mirroring mixed conditions in embodied life.