Vamana Purana — Daksha's Sacrifice & Kapalin Rudra, Shloka 34

Daksha’s Sacrifice and the Origin of Kapalin Rudra (Pulastya–Narada Dialogue)

Devanagari script

ततस्त्रिनेत्रस्य समुद्भवन्ति वक्त्राणि पञ्चाथ सुदर्शनानि श्वेतं च रक्तं कनकावदातं नीलं तथा पिङ्गजटं च शुभ्रम्

Transliteration

tatastrinetrasya samudbhavanti vaktrāṇi pañcātha sudarśanāni śvetaṃ ca raktaṃ kanakāvadātaṃ nīlaṃ tathā piṅgajaṭaṃ ca śubhram

Translation

Then, from the Three-eyed one (Śiva) there arose five splendid, beautiful faces—white, red, golden-bright, blue, and one with tawny matted locks, radiant and pure.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘thereupon/then’

• त्रि-नेत्रस्य: of the three-eyed one (Śiva)
• त्रि-नेत्रस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (संख्यापूर्वक): ‘three-eyed’ (of Śiva)

• समुद्भवन्ति: arise, come forth
• समुद्भवन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उद्+भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘arise/come forth’

• वक्त्राणि: faces, mouths
• वक्त्राणि: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; here subject with verb

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; ‘five’ qualifying वक्त्राणि

• अथ: then, and
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/conjunction): ‘and then/now’

• सुदर्शनानि: beautiful to behold
• सुदर्शनानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘beautiful/pleasant to see’ qualifying वक्त्राणि

• श्वेतम्: white
• श्वेतम्: विशेषण/समुच्चित-वर्णन (Descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; one of the five (elliptic: वक्त्रम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): ‘and’

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (elliptic: वक्त्रम्)

• कनक-अवदातम्: golden-bright, pale like gold
• कनक-अवदातम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + अवदात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘gold-like bright/pale’ (elliptic: वक्त्रम्)

• नीलम्: blue/dark
• नीलम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (elliptic: वक्त्रम्)

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चय (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘likewise/also’

• पिङ्ग-जटम्: tawny-matted-haired
• पिङ्ग-जटम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + जट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘having tawny matted hair’ (elliptic: वक्त्रम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): ‘and’

• शुभ्रम्: bright, shining
• शुभ्रम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (elliptic: वक्त्रम्)

Speakers

• Narrator voice (within the Purāṇic frame; likely Pulastya relating to Nārada
• but not explicit in the given verses)

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Trinetra)

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Theophany
• Cosmic Form
• Sectarian Harmony (implicit in Vāmana Purāṇa’s style)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The divine is not confined to a single, humanly graspable form; the emergence of multiple faces signals omnidirectionality, omniscience, and sovereignty—inviting humility in the face of the Absolute.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily within Vamśānucarita/Carita-type narration (deity-episode within the ongoing narrative); secondarily it supports Sarga-style cosmological theology by describing a divine manifestation.

What is the symbolic significance?

The five faces commonly signify Śiva’s all-pervasive awareness and differentiated functions (often mapped in later Śaiva systems to creation, preservation, dissolution, concealment, and grace), here presented as a theophany that sets up Brahmā’s confrontation.