Vamana Purana — Chanda & Munda Discover Katyayani, Shloka 40

Chanda and Munda Discover Katyayani; Mahishasura’s Proposal and the Vishnu-Panjara Protection

Devanagari script

अथोवाच सुरान् दुर्गा नाहं बध्नामि देवताः कवचं को ऽत्र संतिष्ठेत् ममाग्रे दानवाधमः

Transliteration

athovāca surān durgā nāhaṃ badhnāmi devatāḥ kavacaṃ ko 'tra saṃtiṣṭhet mamāgre dānavādhamaḥ

Translation

Então Durgā disse aos deuses: «Eu não prendo nem ajusto o kavaca (couraça sagrada) às divindades. Quem aqui ficaria precisando de armadura, quando esse vil daitya está diante de mim?»

Word by Word

• atha: then/now
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb); discourse marker

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• surān: the gods
• surān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• durgā: Durgā
• durgā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थ (1st person), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sing.)

• badhnāmi: bind/fasten
• badhnāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bandh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• devatāḥ: the deities
• devatāḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• kavacam: armor; protective charm
• kavacam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sing.)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• saṃtiṣṭhet: should stand/remain
• saṃtiṣṭhet: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: सम्

• mama: of me/my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (sing.)

• agre: in front (of)
• agre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (sing.)

• dānava-adhamaḥ: the vilest of the Dānavas
• dānava-adhamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (genitive/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense: 'among Dānavas, the lowest'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom./1st), एकवचन

Speakers

• Durgā speaking to the Devas

Primary Deities

• Durgā (Mahādevī/Ambikā)
• Devas

Key Themes

• Śākta theology
• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Divine protection
• Courage/Abhaya
• Mantra vs. direct power

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse teaches fearlessness grounded in divine presence: when the highest refuge is near, anxiety-driven measures become secondary. It also critiques dependency on external ‘gear’ when inner assurance (supported by the Divine) is available.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It remains within narrative carita (episode of conflict and divine speech). The Purāṇic function here is didactic theology through story rather than cosmogenesis or dynastic genealogy.

What is the symbolic significance?

Durgā’s stance implies that true protection is not merely an added layer (kavaca) but the immediacy of śakti confronting adharma. Armor becomes symbolic of secondary supports; Devi represents the primary, living refuge.