Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तं वेगेन मुष्टिनाहत्य भूतले पातयामास बलवान् जगर्ज च तदान्धकः

Transliteration

tamāpatantaṃ vegena muṣṭināhatya bhūtale pātayāmāsa balavān jagarja ca tadāndhakaḥ

Translation

वेगाने झेपावणाऱ्यास बलवान अंधकाने मुष्टीने प्रहार करून भूमीवर पाडले; आणि मग अंधक गर्जला।

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• āpatantam: falling/charging down
• āpatantam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√pat (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘tam’ इति विशेषणम्

• vegena: with speed
• vegena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• muṣṭinā: with the fist
• muṣṭinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• āhatya: having struck
• āhatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√han (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• bhūtale: on the ground
• bhūtale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū-tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/7th), एकवचन

• pātayāmāsa: caused to fall / felled
• pātayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु) causative √pātaya
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• balavān: strong
• balavān: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

• jagarja: roared
• jagarja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √garj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• andhakaḥ: Andhaka
• andhakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Not explicit in the provided excerpt (likely within the Purāṇic frame dialogue
• often Pulastya → Nārada
• but not confirmable from these verses alone)

Primary Deities

• Andhaka

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Heroic combat
• Martial prowess

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse foregrounds the Purāṇic motif that sheer physical force and intimidation (the roar) can appear decisive in the moment, yet such victories are typically provisional; dharma and divine order reassert themselves as the narrative continues.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / episodic narrative of conflicts involving prominent beings (Devas/Daityas). It is not sarga/pratisarga but part of the historical-legendary stream typical of Purāṇas.

What is the symbolic significance?

Andhaka’s fist-strike and roar symbolize tamasic dominance—power expressed as subjugation and fear—often contrasted later with disciplined, dharmic kingship or divinely sanctioned restraint.