Vamana Purana — Prahlada vs Nara-Narayana, Shloka 52

Prahlada’s Defeat by Nara-Narayana and Victory through Bhakti

Devanagari script

दैत्येश्वरस्तस्तः क्रुद्धः प्रतिज्ञामारुरोह च यथा कथञ्चिज्जेष्यामि नरनारायणौ रणे

Transliteration

daityeśvarastastaḥ kruddhaḥ pratijñāmāruroha ca yathā kathañcijjeṣyāmi naranārāyaṇau raṇe

Translation

ତାପରେ ଦୈତ୍ୟେଶ୍ୱର କ୍ରୋଧିତ ହୋଇ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କଲା— “ଯେପରି ହେଉ, ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ମୁଁ ନର-ନାରାୟଣଙ୍କୁ ଜିତିବି।”

Word by Word

• daitya-īśvaraḥ: lord of the Daityas
• daitya-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (ततः=thereupon/from that)

• kruddhaḥ: angered
• kruddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त; √krudh)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; agrees with daitya-īśvaraḥ

• pratijñām: a vow/pledge
• pratijñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratijñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• āruroha: mounted/undertook
• āruroha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruh (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana; with upasarga ā-

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• yathā: somehow/as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, manner/comparative particle (यथार्थक)

• kathañcit: by some means
• kathañcit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (कथञ्चित्=somehow/by some means)

• jeṣyāmi: I shall conquer
• jeṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (Periphrastic future/लुट्), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa (1st/उत्तमपुरुष), Eka-vacana

• nara-nārāyaṇau: Nara and Nārāyaṇa
• nara-nārāyaṇau: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Dvi-vacana

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Eka-vacana

Speakers

• Narrator voice (within the Purāṇic frame; commonly Pulastya → Nārada
• but not explicit in the given excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (as Nārāyaṇa / Nara–Nārāyaṇa)

Key Themes

• Daitya–Deva Conflict
• Dharma vs. adharma
• Heroic resolve (pratijñā)
• Vaishnavism

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma often expresses itself as stubborn will (pratijñā) driven by anger; the verse highlights how egoic resolve, even when intense, is ethically inferior to dharmic steadiness embodied by Nara–Nārāyaṇa.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / carita material (narrative of notable beings) rather than sarga/pratisarga; it is episodic history-like narration within the Purāṇic storytelling mode.

What is the symbolic significance?

The Daitya’s vow to overcome Nara–Nārāyaṇa symbolizes the recurring challenge of tamas/rajas attempting to subdue sattvic tapas and divine order; the contest is as much inner (ego vs. discipline) as outer (war).