Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 72

Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)

Devanagari script

एवं पुरा नारद दानवेन्द्रो नारायणेनोत्तमपूरुषेण पराजितश्चापि विमुच्य राज्यं तस्थौ मनो धातरि सन्निवेश्य

Transliteration

evaṃ purā nārada dānavendro nārāyaṇenottamapūruṣeṇa parājitaścāpi vimucya rājyaṃ tasthau mano dhātari sanniveśya

Translation

ଏହିପରି, ହେ ନାରଦ, ପୁରାତନ କାଳରେ ଦାନବେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଉତ୍ତମପୁରୁଷ ନାରାୟଣଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପରାଜିତ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ରାଜ୍ୟ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରି, ଧାତୃରେ ମନକୁ ସ୍ଥାପିତ କରି ସ୍ଥିର ରହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: सम्बन्ध (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: कालाधिकरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• दानवेन्द्रः: the lord of the Dānavas
• दानवेन्द्रः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानवेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक: दानव + इन्द्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारायणेन: by Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणेन: कर्ता (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमपूरुषेण: by the Supreme Person
• उत्तमपूरुषेण: कर्ता (agent in passive; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तमपूरुष (प्रातिपदिक: उत्तम + पुरुष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; नारायणेन इति विशेषण/समनाधिकरण

• पराजितः: defeated
• पराजितः: विशेषण (विशेष्यः—दानवेन्द्रः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जि (धातु) उपसर्ग-पर + √जि → पराजित (कृदन्त/भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘defeated’

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कार (also/even)

• विमुच्य: having given up
• विमुच्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) उपसर्ग-वि + √मुच् → विमुच्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having released/abandoned’

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: कर्म (object of विमुच्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्थौ: remained/stood
• तस्थौ: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → तस्थौ
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: कर्म (object of सन्निवेश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धातरि: in Dhātṛ (the Sustainer/Creator)
• धातरि: अधिकरण (locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in the Creator/Supporter’ (Brahmā/Viṣṇu as dhātṛ)

• सन्निवेश्य: having fixed (it)
• सन्निवेश्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु) उपसर्ग-नि + √विश् (णिच्) → निवेशय; उपसर्ग-सं + सन्निवेश्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having fixed/placed’

Speakers

• Narrator addressing Nārada (frame tradition: Pulastya → Nārada)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)

Key Themes

• Vaishnavism
• Surrender (śaraṇāgati-like renunciation)
• Yoga/meditative absorption
• Daitya king as dharmic exemplar
• Theology of the Supreme Person (uttama-puruṣa)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Defeat by the Divine is not disgrace but instruction: the verse frames true victory as inner steadiness—placing the mind in the divine support (Dhātṛ) after relinquishing attachment to dominion.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita/Carita: it summarizes a key turn in the Daitya-royal narrative and its moral resolution. It also serves as didactic dharma-kathā within the purāṇic frame dialogue.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Vimucya rājya’ (releasing kingship) symbolizes release from possessiveness; ‘mano dhātari’ indicates re-centering consciousness in the cosmic upholder—suggesting that stability lies not in territory but in the sustaining Absolute.