Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 21

Sukeshi’s Inquiry into Dharma: The Seven Dvipas and the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

तमादाय ततो वेगाद् भ्रामयामास चान्धकः जगर्ज च महानादं यथा प्रावृषि तोयदः

Transliteration

tamādāya tato vegād bhrāmayāmāsa cāndhakaḥ jagarja ca mahānādaṃ yathā prāvṛṣi toyadaḥ

Translation

मग अंधकाने तो दंड पकडून वेगाने फिरवू लागला आणि पावसाळ्यातील मेघाप्रमाणे तो मोठ्या गर्जनेने गर्जला.

Word by Word

• तम्: him/it
• तम्: कर्म (कर्मन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), उपसर्ग: आ; ‘having taken’

• ततः: then
• ततः: काल/देश-क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘then/from there’

• वेगात्: from/owing to speed
• वेगात्: हेतु (cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative of cause

• भ्रामयामास: whirled/caused to spin
• भ्रामयामास: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative) sense: ‘caused to whirl’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• अन्धकः: Andhaka
• अन्धकः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगर्ज: roared
• जगर्ज: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• महानादम्: a great roar
• महानादम्: कर्म (गर्जनेन उत्पाद्यः शब्दः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (‘great roar’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: उपमान-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक अव्यय (comparative particle)

• प्रावृषि: in the rainy season
• प्रावृषि: अधिकरण (locative; time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रावृष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तोयदः: a rain-cloud
• तोयदः: उपमान (standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrator voice within the Purāṇic frame (commonly Pulastya → Nārada
• but not explicit in the provided excerpt)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Heroic martial imagery
• Intimidation through sound and display of power

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes how raw force and intimidation can momentarily dominate a battlefield narrative, but such displays are typically portrayed in Purāṇas as transient when set against dharma and cosmic order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under Vaṃśānucarita/Carita-type narrative material (accounts of notable beings and their deeds), rather than sarga/pratisarga. It is episodic battle-description within the historical-mythic storyline.

What is the symbolic significance?

The monsoon-cloud simile (toyada/prāvṛṣ) symbolically links Andhaka’s roar to overwhelming natural power—suggesting a force that ‘covers’ and ‘thunders,’ i.e., an asuric attempt to eclipse order through sheer magnitude.