Vamana Purana — Rudra's Wrath & Kalarupa, Shloka 25

Rudra’s Wrath at Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Iconography of Kālarūpa through the Zodiac

Devanagari script

त्रयो ऽग्नयस्त्रिभिर्नेर्दुःसहं समवैक्षत दृष्टमात्रास्त्रिनेत्रेण भस्मीभूताभवन् क्षणात्

Transliteration

trayo 'gnayastribhirnerduḥsahaṃ samavaikṣata dṛṣṭamātrāstrinetreṇa bhasmībhūtābhavan kṣaṇāt

Translation

耐え難き三つの火は（彼によって）三つの眼を通して放たれた。だが三眼の御方にただ見られただけで、それらは瞬時に灰と化した。

Word by Word

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying agnayaḥ

• agnayaḥ: fires
• agnayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• tribhiḥ: by/with three (ways/means)
• tribhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; numeral used adverbially/instrumentally

• nerduḥ: roared
• nerduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nard (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural; with prefix nis-/nir- (phonetic: ner-)

• duḥsaham: unbearable (sound/force)
• duḥsaham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥsaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adverbially as object/complement

• samavaikṣata: looked at/observed
• samavaikṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; with prefixes sam-ava-

• dṛṣṭamātrāḥ: at mere sight (of him)
• dṛṣṭamātrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛṣṭa + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; Tatpuruṣa: dṛṣṭa-mātra (only seen/at mere sight)

• trinetreṇa: by the three-eyed (Śiva)
• trinetreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; Bahuvrīhi epithet: yasya trīṇi netrāṇi saḥ (the three-eyed one)

• bhasmībhūtāḥ: turned to ashes
• bhasmībhūtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasmī-bhūta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; Karmadhāraya: bhasmī (as ashes) + bhūta (become)

• abhavan: became
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• kṣaṇāt: in an instant
• kṣaṇāt: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; adverbial ablative

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Pulastya–Nārada dialogue framework (specific speaker not explicit in provided excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Trinetra)

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Divine power (tejas)
• Instant karmic consequence
• Ritual crisis (yajña context implied)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse teaches the supremacy of divine tejas over all constructed power (including ritual or martial force). When dharma is violated, correction can be immediate; hence prudence, humility, and right intention are essential.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita-style narrative (deity’s intervention producing immediate historical/episodic consequences). It is not sarga/pratisarga, but it supports Purāṇic dharma instruction through dramatic exemplum.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘three fires’ and the ‘three eyes’ mirror each other: knowledge (jñāna), will (icchā), and action (kriyā) converge as a single purifying force. Becoming ash (bhasma) symbolizes dissolution of ego and impurity—anticipating the Shaiva emblem of bhasma as purified remainder.