Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 23

Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)

Devanagari script

प्रासे छिन्ने ततो दैत्यः शक्तिमादाय चिक्षिपे तां च चिच्छेद बलवान् क्षुरप्रेण महातपाः

Transliteration

prāse chinne tato daityaḥ śaktimādāya cikṣipe tāṃ ca ciccheda balavān kṣurapreṇa mahātapāḥ

Translation

Когда дротик (prāsa) был рассечён, дайтья взял шакти (śakti) и метнул её. Могучий великий подвижник рассёк и это стрелой с лезвием, как бритва (kṣurapra).

Word by Word

• प्रासे: when the spear
• प्रासे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• छिन्ने: was cut
• छिन्ने: सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (कृदन्त; √छिद् धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग — past passive participle; with प्रासे forms locative absolute

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘then/from there’

• दैत्यः: the Daitya (demon)
• दैत्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• शक्तिम्: a javelin/spear-weapon (śakti)
• शक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having taken’

• चिक्षिपे: threw
• चिक्षिपे: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचन (3rd sg)

• ताम्: that (śakti)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• चिच्छेद: cut
• चिच्छेद: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचन

• बलवान्: mighty
• बलवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• क्षुरप्रेण: with a razor(-edged) arrow/weapon
• क्षुरप्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुर + प्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन (Instrumental singular), पुंलिङ्ग; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः: क्षुरवत् प्रः/प्र (razor-edged arrow/weapon)

• महातपाः: the great ascetic
• महातपाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्मधारय: महत् तपः यस्य सः

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (typical framing; Nārada is directly addressed in the surrounding verses)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Divine Protection
• Martial imagery in Purāṇic narrative

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Escalation of force is shown as futile against dharmic, divinely-guided power; the narrative emphasizes that mere weaponry (external strength) cannot prevail over a protector aligned with cosmic order (dharma).

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

This is part of Vaṃśānucarita/Carita-style narrative material (accounts of gods, demons, and their conflicts) rather than sarga/pratisarga; it functions as exemplary history within the Purāṇic storytelling framework.

What is the symbolic significance?

The cutting down of successive weapons symbolizes the limitation of aggressive will (daitya-pravṛtti) when confronted by disciplined, higher power (tapas/tejas). The 'razor-arrow' motif often signifies discriminative force that severs adharma.