Vamana Purana — Narada Questions Pulastya, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

श्रूयते च द्विजश्रेष्ठ दक्षस्य दुहिता सती शङ्करस्य प्रिया भार्या बभुव वरवर्णिनी

Transliteration

śrūyate ca dvijaśreṣṭha dakṣasya duhitā satī śaṅkarasya priyā bhāryā babhuva varavarṇinī

Translation

また聞くところによれば、最勝のブラーフマナよ、ダクシャの娘サティーは、優れた容色を備え、シャンカラ（シヴァ）の愛しき妻となった。

Word by Word

• श्रूयते: is heard / is said
• श्रूयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is heard/it is said’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• द्विज-श्रेष्ठ: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानां श्रेष्ठः)

• दक्षस्य: of Dakṣa
• दक्षस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• दुहिता: daughter
• दुहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सती: Satī
• सती: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• शङ्करस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शङ्करस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रिया: beloved
• प्रिया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘भार्या’)

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• बभूव: became / was
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वर-वर्णिनी: of excellent complexion / beautiful
• वर-वर्णिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वरः वर्णः यस्याः/सुन्दरवर्णा)

Speakers

• Not explicit in the provided excerpt; the vocative ‘dvijaśreṣṭha’ indicates a narrator addressing a Brahmin interlocutor.

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Purana Genealogy/Itihasa
• Divine Marriage
• Sectarian Harmony (contextual potential in Vamana Purana)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse anchors the sanctity of marital union in divine exemplars, presenting Satī–Śiva as a paradigmatic relationship that later narratives use to discuss devotion, honor, and the consequences of disrespect toward the divine.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily Vamśa/Vamśānucarita: it situates characters within genealogical-historical sacred narrative (Dakṣa, Satī, Śiva), often serving as the preface to episodes of conflict and restoration.

What is the symbolic significance?

Satī’s identity as Dakṣa’s daughter and Śiva’s beloved sets up the symbolic polarity of ritual pride (Dakṣa) versus ascetic transcendence (Śiva), a recurring Purāṇic theme.