Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

विष्णुः पितामहश्चोभौ हरलिङ्गं समेत्य हि कृताञ्जलिपुटौ भूत्वा स्तोतुं देवं प्रचक्रतुः

Transliteration

viṣṇuḥ pitāmahaścobhau haraliṅgaṃ sametya hi kṛtāñjalipuṭau bhūtvā stotuṃ devaṃ pracakratuḥ

Translation

Viṣṇu e Pitāmaha (Brahmā), ambos juntos, aproximaram-se do Hara-liṅga; com as mãos unidas em añjali, começaram a louvar o Deus.

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उभौ: both (of them)
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• हर-लिङ्गम्: the emblem/sign of Hara (Śiva-liṅga)
• हर-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• समेत्य: having approached/met
• समेत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुटौ: with hands joined in reverence (both)
• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुटौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातु) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्तृविशेषण; 'कृतः अञ्जलिपुटः ययोः' (hands folded as a hollow)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजन (purpose)

• देवम्: the god (Śiva)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• प्रचक्रतुः: they began/undertook
• प्रचक्रतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चक्र्/कृ (धातु; periphrastic from √कृ)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice; action of Vishnu and Brahma leading into their spoken hymn

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Shiva

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Vaishnavism
• Bhakti
• Linga Worship
• Sectarian Harmony

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The highest divine agents model humility and devotion: even cosmic administrators (Vishnu, Brahmā) adopt añjali and praise, teaching that reverence is not negated by greatness.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Best placed under Vamśānucarita/Manvantara-style narrative theology (deity interactions within cosmic administration), though not genealogical; it functions as a doctrinal episode affirming worship (stuti) and the liṅga as a focal symbol.

What is the symbolic significance?

The joint approach to the liṅga dramatizes non-competition among deities: the liṅga becomes the axis of unity where Vaiṣṇava and Brāhma motifs converge into Śaiva devotion, expressing Purāṇic inclusivism.