Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

महापाशुपतश्चासीद्भरद्वाजस्तपोधनः तस्य शिष्यो ऽप्यभूद्राजा ऋषभः सोमकेश्वरः

Transliteration

mahāpāśupataścāsīdbharadvājastapodhanaḥ tasya śiṣyo 'pyabhūdrājā ṛṣabhaḥ somakeśvaraḥ

Translation

Bharadvāja, rico em poder ascético, foi um grande Pāśupata. Seu discípulo também foi um rei — Ṛṣabha, conhecido como Somakeśvara.

Word by Word

• महापाशुपतः: the great Pāśupata
• महापाशुपतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg); कर्मधारय: 'महान् पाशुपतः'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• भरद्वाजः: Bharadvāja
• भरद्वाजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharadvāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg)

• तपोधनः: rich in austerity (ascetic)
• तपोधनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg); बहुव्रीहि: 'तपो धनं यस्य सः'

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg)

• शिष्यः: disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg)

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha (name)
• ऋषभः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg)

• सोमकेश्वरः: Somakeśvara (name/title)
• सोमकेश्वरः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma + keśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: 'सोमस्य केश्वरः/ईश्वरः' (नाम)

Speakers

• Not explicit in the provided verses (commonly framed as Pulastya → Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa)

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Guru-Śiṣya Lineage
• Tapas/Austerity
• Kingship integrated with ascetic discipline

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse presents tapas and Śaiva devotion as compatible with worldly rulership: spiritual attainment is not restricted to renunciants; a king can be a legitimate disciple in a rigorous Śaiva path.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / paramparā-style material: it functions like a lineage record (succession of teachers and disciples), a common Purāṇic mode of legitimizing doctrines through transmission.

What is the symbolic significance?

By naming a royal disciple with a Śaiva epithet (Somakeśvara), the text signals the reach of Pāśupata identity across social roles, emphasizing initiation/discipleship over mere status.