Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 22

Nara-Narayana’s Tapas, Indra’s Temptation, and the Burning of Kama: The Origin of Ananga and the Shiva-Linga Episode

Devanagari script

ततो नारायणो दृष्ट्वा आश्रमस्यानवद्यताम् समीक्ष्य च दिशः सर्वास्ततो ऽनङ्गमपश्यत

Transliteration

tato nārāyaṇo dṛṣṭvā āśramasyānavadyatām samīkṣya ca diśaḥ sarvāstato 'naṅgamapaśyata

Translation

Então Nārāyaṇa, tendo visto a excelência irrepreensível do eremitério e tendo observado todas as direções, avistou em seguida Ananga (Kāma).

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (adverb: ‘then/thereupon’)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया—‘having seen’

• आश्रमस्य: of the hermitage
• आश्रमस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अनवद्यताम्: faultlessness, blamelessness
• अनवद्यताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनवद्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भाववाचक—‘faultlessness’

• समीक्ष्य: having examined
• समीक्ष्य: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + √ईक्ष् (धातु) → समीक्ष्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having looked/observed’

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

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—दिशः सर्वाः

• ततः: then
• ततः: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरम् (then)

• अनङ्गम्: Ananga (Kāma)
• अनङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कामदेवस्य नाम

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speakers

• Not explicit in provided excerpt (likely within the Purāṇic frame dialogue
• often Pulastya → Nārada)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)
• Kāma (Ananga)

Key Themes

• Sacred Geography
• Tapas vs. Desire (Kāma/Ananga motif)
• Divine inspection of holy place

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even in a ‘faultless’ sacred setting, desire (Kāma/Ananga) can appear; the implied lesson is vigilance and discernment—purity of place supports practice, but self-mastery remains essential.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is narrative/ethical exemplification attached to tīrtha-māhātmya and tapas themes; it aligns most closely with dharma-oriented instruction and character-episodes (aṅga-kathā) rather than genealogical or cosmogenic lakṣaṇas.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Ananga’ (bodiless desire) signifies subtle temptation: not always gross or visible, it can arise even amid sanctity. Nārāyaṇa’s ‘surveying the directions’ suggests comprehensive awareness before confronting or understanding desire’s entry.