Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 53

Akhaṇḍa-Ekādaśī Vrata and the Vaiṣṇava Protective Hymn; Prelude to the Kātyāyanī–Mahiṣāsura Narrative

Devanagari script

इत्येवमुक्तो देवेन वह्निना दानवो ययौ द्रष्टुं मालवटं यक्षं यक्षैश्च परिवारितम्

Transliteration

ityevamukto devena vahninā dānavo yayau draṣṭuṃ mālavaṭaṃ yakṣaṃ yakṣaiśca parivāritam

Translation

Thus addressed by the god Vahni (Fire), the Dānava went to see the Yakṣa Mālavaṭa, who was surrounded by Yakṣas.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-उक्त्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• evam: in this manner
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to/told
• uktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• devena: by the god
• devena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• vahninā: by Vahni (Fire)
• vahninā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; देवेन इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• dānavaḥ: the demon (Dānava)
• dānavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); अर्थ: to see

• mālavaṭam: Mālavaṭa (proper name)
• mālavaṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālavaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• yakṣam: a Yakṣa
• yakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; mālavaṭam इत्यस्य apposition

• yakṣaiḥ: by Yakṣas
• yakṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• parivāritam: surrounded
• parivāritam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√vṛ (धातु) (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; yakṣam इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speakers

• Narratorial voice; Agni (Vahni) gives instruction to a Dānava

Primary Deities

• Agni (Vahni)

Key Themes

• Daitya/Asura movement and quest
• Divine instruction
• Yakṣa guardianship

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even a Dānava acts within a cosmos where divine ordinance (here, Agni’s word) directs action. The episode suggests that power—whether demonic or divine—must negotiate with established guardians (yakṣas) and cosmic roles.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This belongs to Vamśānucarita / narrative episodes (ākhyāna) rather than strict sarga/pratisarga: it is a situational story involving beings (deva, dānava, yakṣa) and their interactions.

What is the symbolic significance?

Agni functions as mediator and catalyst—fire reveals, purifies, and impels movement. The yakṣa surrounded by yakṣas symbolizes guarded wealth/occult power that is not accessed by force alone but by approaching the proper custodian.