Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 46

Akhaṇḍa-Ekādaśī Vrata and the Vaiṣṇava Protective Hymn; Prelude to the Kātyāyanī–Mahiṣāsura Narrative

Devanagari script

ततो भ्रातरि नष्टे च रम्भः कोपपरिप्लुतः वह्नौ स्वशीर्षं संक्षिद्य होतुमैच्चन् महाबलः

Transliteration

tato bhrātari naṣṭe ca rambhaḥ kopapariplutaḥ vahnau svaśīrṣaṃ saṃkṣidya hotumaiccan mahābalaḥ

Translation

ତାପରେ ଭ୍ରାତା ନଷ୍ଟ ହେଲେ ମହାବଳୀ ରମ୍ଭ କ୍ରୋଧରେ ପ୍ଲୁତ ହୋଇ, ନିଜ ଶିର କାଟି ଅଗ୍ନିରେ ନିକ୍ଷେପ କରି ଆହୁତି ଦେବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କଲା।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनुक्रम सूचक (then/thereupon)

• भ्रातरि: (when) the brother
• भ्रातरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/संबन्ध), एकवचन; ‘भ्राता’ locative: ‘when/with respect to the brother’

• नष्टे: having perished/being lost
• नष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √नश् (धातु) > नष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute)

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

• रम्भः: Rambha (name)
• रम्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कोप-परिप्लुतः: overwhelmed by anger
• कोप-परिप्लुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + परिप्लुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (कोपेन परिप्लुतः = overwhelmed by anger)

• वह्नौ: in the fire
• वह्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्व-शीर्षम्: his own head
• स्व-शीर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य शीर्षम्)

• सम्-क्षिद्य: having cut off
• सम्-क्षिद्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√क्षिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having cut off/cleaved’

• होतुम्: to offer (in sacrifice)
• होतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive; ‘to offer (as oblation)/to sacrifice’

• ऐच्छत्: he wished
• ऐच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he desired/wished’

• महाबलः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् बलः यस्य/महद्बलः)

Speakers

• Narratorial verse (within the Purana’s dialogue frame
• typically Pulastya → Nārada
• but not explicit in the given excerpt)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Grief and Anger
• Self-harm prohibited (Atma-himsa)
• Ritual action misdirected by passion

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

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.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

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.

What is the symbolic significance?

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.