Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 46
Akhaṇḍa-Ekādaśī Vrata and the Vaiṣṇava Protective Hymn; Prelude to the Kātyāyanī–Mahiṣāsura Narrative
ततो भ्रातरि नष्टे च रम्भः कोपपरिप्लुतः वह्नौ स्वशीर्षं संक्षिद्य होतुमैच्चन् महाबलः
tato bhrātari naṣṭe ca rambhaḥ kopapariplutaḥ vahnau svaśīrṣaṃ saṃkṣidya hotumaiccan mahābalaḥ
Then, when his brother was lost (killed), Rambha—overwhelmed by anger—cut off his own head into the fire, wishing to offer it (as an oblation), he of great strength.
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FAQs
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.
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.
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.