Vamana Purana — Sati's Death & Virabhadra, Shloka 13
Sati’s Death and the Assault on Daksha’s Sacrifice: Virabhadra versus the Devas
आगतो ददृशे देवीं लतामिव वनस्पतेः कृत्तां परशुना भूमौ श्लथाङ्गीं पतितां सतीम्
āgato dadṛśe devīṃ latāmiva vanaspateḥ kṛttāṃ paraśunā bhūmau ślathāṅgīṃ patitāṃ satīm
そこに来て彼は女神を見た——木に絡む蔓のように——斧で断ち切られ、地に倒れ、四肢は力なく弛緩している。徳高きサティーであった。
{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
The simile of a creeper cut down underscores the fragility of embodied life and the adharma of harming the innocent. It also evokes the protective duty of the divine (and by extension, of society) toward the vulnerable.
As with the surrounding verses, it functions as carita (narrative episode) within Vamśānucarita-type storytelling, rather than cosmogenesis or manvantara cataloguing.
Devi compared to a latā (creeper) suggests śakti as life-sap/support entwined with the cosmic ‘tree’; the ‘axe’ image symbolizes disruptive, egoic or demonic force that severs harmony, prompting restorative action by Śiva.