Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 14

Sukeshi’s Inquiry into Dharma: The Seven Dvipas and the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

ततो वैवस्वतो दण्डं परिभ्राम्य द्विजोत्तम समभ्यधावत् प्रह्लादं हन्तुकामः सुरोत्तमः

Transliteration

tato vaivasvato daṇḍaṃ paribhrāmya dvijottama samabhyadhāvat prahlādaṃ hantukāmaḥ surottamaḥ

Translation

Então Vaivasvata (Yama), brandindo e fazendo girar o seu bastão, correu contra Prahlāda, desejoso de matá-lo — ó melhor dos duas-vezes-nascidos.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: क्रम/हेतु (Sequence/Discourse link)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (thereupon/from that)

• वैवस्वतः: Vaivasvata (son of Vivasvat)
• वैवस्वतः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैवस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying implied subject, e.g., Yama)

• दण्डम्: staff/rod
• दण्डम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• परिभ्राम्य: having whirled (it) around
• परिभ्राम्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; √भ्रम् with उपसर्ग परि (having whirled/brandished around)

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः ‘best of twice-born’

• समभ्यधावत्: ran up/charged
• समभ्यधावत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); उपसर्गौ सम् + अभि

• प्रह्लादम्: Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• हन्तुकामः: desiring to kill
• हन्तुकामः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन्तु-काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः—हन्तुम् (infinitive of √हन्) + काम (desirous)

• सुरोत्तमः: the best of the gods
• सुरोत्तमः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः ‘best of gods’

Speakers

• Narrative layer not specified in input (commonly Pulastya → Nārada framing); direct address ‘dvijottama’ indicates a brāhmaṇa listener within the frame

Primary Deities

• Yama (Vaivasvata)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Cosmic Justice (Yama)
• Bhakti under Threat (Prahlāda)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even the enforcer of cosmic law (Yama) is portrayed within the turbulence of war; the episode invites reflection that dharma is subtle—Prahlāda’s presence signals that devotion and righteousness may stand even when opposed by formidable authorities.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / Carita: narrative of prominent beings (devas/daityas) in conflict; it also touches dharma-śāstra resonance via Yama as the personification of justice.

What is the symbolic significance?

Yama’s daṇḍa represents punitive order and karmic retribution; his charge against Prahlāda dramatizes the tension between external enforcement and inner sanctity—often resolved in purāṇic literature by showing that true bhakti is protected by the Supreme beyond ordinary antagonisms.