Vamana Purana — Narada Questions Pulastya, Shloka 26

Narada Questions Pulastya: The Vamana Purana Begins and Satī’s Monsoon Lament

Devanagari script

सव्येतरे तक्षक उत्तरे तथा नीलो ऽपि नीलाञ्जनतुल्यवर्णः श्रोणीतटे राजति सुप्रतिष्ठः

Transliteration

savyetare takṣaka uttare tathā nīlo 'pi nīlāñjanatulyavarṇaḥ śroṇītaṭe rājati supratiṣṭhaḥ

Translation

反対側にはタクシャカ（Takṣaka）があり、また上方にはニ―ラ（Nīla）がいて、その色は濃いアンジャナ（黒い眼料）に等しい。スプラティシュタ（Supratiṣṭha）は腰のあたりに輝いている。

Word by Word

• savya-itare: on the left and on the other side
• savya-itare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक) + itara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); तत्पुरुष-समासः (निर्देश/भेदः) — “on the left and the other (side)”

• takṣakaḥ: Takṣaka (serpent)
• takṣakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: takṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• uttare: in the north / on the northern side
• uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular) — “in the northern (side/place)”

• tathā: thus / likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of manner)

• nīlaḥ: blue / dark
• nīlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• api: also / even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (particle: also/even)

• nīla-añjana-tulya-varṇaḥ: having a complexion like blue collyrium
• nīla-añjana-tulya-varṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + añjana (प्रातिपदिक) + tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः — “नीलाञ्जनेन तुल्यः वर्णः यस्य” (color like blue collyrium)

• śroṇī-taṭe: on the hip-slope / at the haunch-side
• śroṇī-taṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śroṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + taṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः — “श्रोण्याः तटः” (on the slope/side of the hip/haunch)

• rājati: shines / is resplendent
• rājati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• su-pratiṣṭhaḥ: well-established / firmly placed
• su-pratiṣṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + pratiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः — “सु + प्रतिष्ठः” (well-established/firmly set)

Speakers

• Continuation of the same descriptive speech (likely Śiva to Devī; not fully shown)

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Iconography
• Mythic zoology (Nāgas)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The body of the deity is portrayed as a cosmos where even formidable beings (Nāgas) find their proper place—suggesting order (ṛta) and integration rather than rejection of powerful instincts or forces.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is descriptive theology (devatā-varṇana) embedded in narrative; it is not a standalone pancalakṣaṇa category but supports the Purāṇic aim of dharma and upāsanā by defining the deity’s recognizable marks.

What is the symbolic significance?

The repeated naming and placement of Nāgas functions like a sacred ‘map’ of divine embodiment; colors such as nīlāñjana evoke depth, mystery, and the absorptive power of the absolute (into which fear and darkness are assimilated).