Vamana Purana — Prahlada vs Nara-Narayana, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

स ददर्श ततो ऽदूरात्कृष्णाजिनधरौ मुनी समुन्नतजटाभारौ तपस्यासक्तमानसौ

Transliteration

sa dadarśa tato 'dūrātkṛṣṇājinadharau munī samunnatajaṭābhārau tapasyāsaktamānasau

Translation

そのとき、ほど近いところに、黒羚羊の皮をまとった二人の牟尼を見た。高く結い上げた重い結髪を戴き、心は苦行（タパス）に没入していた。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then; from there
• ततः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Temporal-Local)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे—‘then/from there’

• अदूरात्: from nearby; not far away
• अदूरात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अदूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (ablatival adverbial use); ‘from not far’

• कृष्णाजिनधरौ: the two wearers of black antelope-skins
• कृष्णाजिनधरौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णाजिन + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); समासः—कृष्णाजिनं धरतीति (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः)

• मुनी: two sages
• मुनी: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• समुन्नतजटाभारौ: having lofty masses of matted hair
• समुन्नतजटाभारौ: कर्म (Karma/Object; adjectival to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुन्नत + जटा + भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषणम् (adjective) ‘मुनी’ इत्यस्य; समासः—समुन्नतः जटाभारः यस्य (तत्पुरुष)

• तपस्यासक्तमानसौ: whose minds were attached to austerity
• तपस्यासक्तमानसौ: कर्म (Karma/Object; adjectival to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्या + आसक्त + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषणम् ‘मुनी’; समासः—तपस्यायाम् आसक्तं मानसं यस्य (तत्पुरुष)

Speakers

• Narrative layer not explicit in the given excerpt (commonly Pulastya ↔ Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa).

Key Themes

• Tapas (austerity)
• Ascetic iconography
• Transition from martial to spiritual encounter

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purāṇic narratives often pivot from force to counsel: the appearance of tapasvin sages signals that dharma is ultimately guided by spiritual authority and inner discipline rather than mere martial prowess.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita-style episode development: introduction of munis as agents of guidance/curse/boon is a standard narrative device within genealogical-historical narration (vamśānucarita).

What is the symbolic significance?

Kṛṣṇājina and jaṭā are markers of Vedic-ascetic legitimacy; the ‘raised matted hair’ and absorbed minds indicate accumulated tapas-śakti, a counterforce to daitya krodha and a potential turning point in the episode.