Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 48

Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Origin of Kapalin Rudra (Pulastya–Narada Dialogue)

Devanagari script

तृतीया न्यपतद् धारा कपाले रौद्रदर्शने तस्माच्छिशुः समभवत् संनद्धकवचो युवा

Transliteration

tṛtīyā nyapatad dhārā kapāle raudradarśane tasmācchiśuḥ samabhavat saṃnaddhakavaco yuvā

Translation

ତୃତୀୟ ଧାରା ରୌଦ୍ର ଓ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଦର୍ଶନଯୁକ୍ତ କପାଳରେ ପଡ଼ିଲା; ସେଠାରୁ ଗୋଟିଏ ଶିଶୁ ଜନ୍ମ ନେଲା— କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ଯୁବକ, ଦୃଢ଼ଭାବେ ବନ୍ଧା କବଚ ପିନ୍ଧି ସଜ୍ଜ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• तृतीया: the third (stream)
• तृतीया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (धारा-शब्दं प्रति)

• न्यपतत्: fell down
• न्यपतत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• धारा: stream
• धारा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कपाले: on the skull
• कपाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• रौद्रदर्शने: in the terrible-looking (one)
• रौद्रदर्शने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (रौद्रं दर्शनं यस्य/यत्र तत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in/at the terrible-looking (skull)’—विशेषणं कपाले

• तस्मात्: from that/from him
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान

• शिशुः: a child
• शिशुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समभवत्: came to be/was born
• समभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• संनद्धकवचः: wearing fastened armor
• संनद्धकवचः: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनद्ध + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (संनद्धं कवचं यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• युवा: a youth
• युवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative frame not explicit in the provided verses; speaker unspecified

Primary Deities

• Śiva/Rudra (implied through raudra imagery and kapāla symbolism)

Key Themes

• Śaivism
• Kapāla symbolism
• Martial/heroic manifestation
• Mythic birth accounts

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The passage underscores that even what appears fearsome (the skull motif) can be a vessel of purposeful manifestation—suggesting that dharma may require protective, martial energies alongside ascetic ones.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily sarga-like etiological material (origin of a being from a divine event). If the youth is later identified with a known figure, it can also support vamśānucarita indirectly.

What is the symbolic significance?

Kapāla and ‘raudra’ imagery indicate transformation through Śiva’s liminal symbols (death/renunciation) into protective power (armor), uniting ascetic and warrior archetypes in a single birth-image.