Vamana Purana — Skanda Slays Taraka & Mahisha, Shloka 61

Skanda’s Svastyayana and the Slaying of Taraka and Mahisha

Devanagari script

नाडीजङ्घो ऽङ्घ्रिपातैश्च मुष्टिभिर्जानुनासुरान् कीलभिर्वज्रतुल्याभिर्जघान बलवान् मुने

Transliteration

nāḍījaṅgho 'ṅghripātaiśca muṣṭibhirjānunāsurān kīlabhirvajratulyābhirjaghāna balavān mune

Translation

हे मुने, बलवान नाडीजङ्घाने पायांच्या प्रहारांनी, मुष्ट्यांनी व गुडघ्यांनी असुरांना ठार केले; तसेच वज्रतुल्य कीलांसारख्या शस्त्रांनीही त्यांचा वध केला।

Word by Word

• नाडी-जङ्घः: he whose shanks are like tubes/veins (Nāḍījaṅgha)
• नाडी-जङ्घः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडी + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (नाड्यः जङ्घासु यस्य सः)

• अङ्घ्रि-पातैः: with kicks/foot-strikes
• अङ्घ्रि-पातैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्घ्रि + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अङ्घ्रेः पातैः)

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

• मुष्टिभिः: with fists
• मुष्टिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• जानुना: with the knee
• जानुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• असुरान्: demons/asuras
• असुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• कीलभिः: with spikes/pegs
• कीलभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वज्र-तुल्याभिः: equal to thunderbolts
• वज्र-तुल्याभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कीलभिः इत्यस्य); तत्पुरुष-समासः (वज्रेण तुल्याः)

• जघान: slew/struck down
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बलवान्: mighty
• बलवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नाडी-जङ्घः)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic sūta/ṛṣi voice) addressing a sage (mune) within the Andhaka-vadha frame

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Andhaka-vadha cycle
• Martial valor and bodily combat
• Asura–Deva conflict
• Hyperbolic weapon imagery (vajra-simile)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is Nāḍījaṅgha in this passage?

Nāḍījaṅgha is presented as a named combatant in the Andhaka-related battle narration. The verse emphasizes his physical prowess—kicks, punches, and knee-strikes—suggesting a close-quarters melee rather than chariot-archery.

What does ‘kīla’ mean here—ritual peg or weapon?

While kīla can denote a peg/pin in general (and in other contexts a stake), here it functions as a spike-like weapon or implement used in battle, reinforced by the simile ‘vajra-tulya’ (thunderbolt-like) indicating lethal hardness and impact.

Does this verse contribute to the Vāmana Purāṇa’s sacred geography?

Not directly. This śloka is purely martial description within the Andhaka-vadha narrative and contains no named tīrtha, river, or region.