Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

ततो भ्रातरि नष्टे च रम्भः कोपपरिप्लुतः वह्नौ स्वशीर्षं संक्षिद्य होतुमैच्चन् महाबलः

Transliteration

tato bhrātari naṣṭe ca rambhaḥ kopapariplutaḥ vahnau svaśīrṣaṃ saṃkṣidya hotumaiccan mahābalaḥ

Translation

मग भाऊ नष्ट झाल्यावर महाबली रंभ क्रोधाने भरून गेला; त्याने स्वतःचे शिर छेदून अग्नीत टाकले आणि आहुती म्हणून अर्पण करावे अशी इच्छा केली।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनुक्रम सूचक (then/thereupon)

• भ्रातरि: (when) the brother
• भ्रातरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/संबन्ध), एकवचन; ‘भ्राता’ locative: ‘when/with respect to the brother’

• नष्टे: having perished/being lost
• नष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √नश् (धातु) > नष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रम्भः: Rambha (name)
• रम्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कोप-परिप्लुतः: overwhelmed by anger
• कोप-परिप्लुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + परिप्लुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (कोपेन परिप्लुतः = overwhelmed by anger)

• वह्नौ: in the fire
• वह्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्व-शीर्षम्: his own head
• स्व-शीर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य शीर्षम्)

• सम्-क्षिद्य: having cut off
• सम्-क्षिद्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√क्षिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having cut off/cleaved’

• होतुम्: to offer (in sacrifice)
• होतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive; ‘to offer (as oblation)/to sacrifice’

• ऐच्छत्: he wished
• ऐच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he desired/wished’

• महाबलः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् बलः यस्य/महद्बलः)

Speakers

• Narratorial verse (within the Purana’s dialogue frame
• typically Pulastya → Nārada
• but not explicit in the given excerpt)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Grief and Anger
• Self-harm prohibited (Atma-himsa)
• Ritual action misdirected by passion

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Grief and anger (śoka–krodha) can drive even the powerful into adharmic extremes. The verse sets up a moral correction: self-destruction, even when framed as ‘sacrifice,’ is not upheld as a righteous response; dharma requires restraint and right intention.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (narratives of lineages and their deeds), specifically an asuric episode illustrating conduct and consequences, rather than cosmogenesis (sarga/pratisarga) or manvantara focus.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘offering of one’s head into fire’ symbolizes tamasic despair masquerading as ritual. Fire (vahni) here becomes a stage for misapplied yajña-logic—showing that ritual without sattvic discernment is spiritually sterile.