Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

संछिन्नेष्वथ चापेषु जग्राह दितिजेश्वरः परिघं दारुणां दीर्घं सर्वलोहमयं दृढम्

Transliteration

saṃchinneṣvatha cāpeṣu jagrāha ditijeśvaraḥ parighaṃ dāruṇāṃ dīrghaṃ sarvalohamayaṃ dṛḍham

Translation

ਜਦੋਂ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਧਨੁਸ਼ ਚਿੱਥੜੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ, ਤਦ ਦਿਤੀ-ਜਨਮਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਰਦਾਰ ਇੱਕ ਪਰਿਘਾ ਚੁੱਕ ਲਿਆ—ਭਿਆਨਕ, ਲੰਮਾ, ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਲੋਹੇ ਦਾ ਅਤੇ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ।

Word by Word

• संछिन्नेषु: when (they were) cut / in the cut (bows)
• संछिन्नेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; (चापेषु) विशेषणम्

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• चापेषु: in the bows
• चापेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन

• जग्राह: seized / took
• जग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दितिजेश्वरः: lord of the Diti-born (demons)
• दितिजेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दितिज + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमास (दितिजानाम् ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परिघम्: iron club / bar
• परिघम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दारुणम्: terrible
• दारुणम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (परिघम्)

• दीर्घम्: long
• दीर्घम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वलोहमयम्: made wholly of iron
• सर्वलोहमयम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लोह + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सर्वैः लोहेन मयः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• दृढम्: firm / solid
• दृढम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speakers

• Dialogue framework not explicit in the given verses (commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa narration)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Escalation of force
• Weapon symbolism

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When subtle means fail (bows), the violent mind escalates to heavier force (parigha); the text often portrays such escalation as ultimately self-defeating when opposed by dharmic power.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita-style episode within deva-asura struggle; it is exemplary narrative rather than creation/dissolution taxonomy.

What is the symbolic significance?

The iron parigha signifies hardened resolve and tamasic inertia—an attempt to overwhelm through weight rather than precision—often contrasted with the opponent’s skill and clarity.