Shloka 45

Sati's Death & Virabhadra — Sati’s Death and the Assault on Daksha’s Sacrifice: Virabhadra versus the Devas

Devanagari script

तानस्त्रान्वासुदेवेन प्रक्षिप्तान्गणनायकः वारयामास शूलेन गदया मार्गणैस्तथा

Transliteration

tānastrānvāsudevena prakṣiptāngaṇanāyakaḥ vārayāmāsa śūlena gadayā mārgaṇaistathā

Translation

വാസുദേവൻ എറിഞ്ഞ ആ ആയുധങ്ങളെ ഗണനായകൻ ശൂലം, ഗദ, അതുപോലെ അമ്പുകൾ എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് തടഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); pronominal adjective to astrān

• astrān: weapons/missiles
• astrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vāsudevena: by Vāsudeva
• vāsudevena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prakṣiptān: thrown/cast
• prakṣiptān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√kṣip (धातु) + prakṣipta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying astrān

• gaṇanāyakaḥ: leader of the gaṇas (Gaṇeśa)
• gaṇanāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa + nāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: gaṇānāṃ nāyakaḥ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vārayāmāsa: warded off/prevented
• vārayāmāsa: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Causative verb; Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• śūlena: with a trident/spear
• śūlena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gadayā: with a mace
• gadayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mārgaṇaiḥ: with arrows
• mārgaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Speakers

• Narratorial verse within the Purāṇic dialogue framework (speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Vāsudeva)
• Śiva-associated forces (gaṇa-nāyaka; Vīrabhadra context)

Key Themes

• Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis
• Divine combat as theological metaphor
• Astra-śastra interplay (mantric weapons vs. physical weapons)
• Power parity between sectarian deities

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames conflict as controlled and rule-bound: even divine force meets an answering force. Ethically, it cautions against absolutizing one’s power; spiritually, it suggests that divine agencies operate in balance rather than chaotic domination.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita/Vamśānucarita-type narration: a descriptive action sequence in a mythic episode, not directly sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa cataloguing.

What is the symbolic significance?

The gaṇa-leader countering astras with śūla, gadā, and arrows symbolizes the equivalence and complementarity of Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava powers. The ‘blocking’ motif supports the Purāṇa’s tendency toward sectarian harmony: neither side is portrayed as trivially overpowering the other.