Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 46
Akhaṇḍa-Ekādaśī Vrata and the Vaiṣṇava Protective Hymn; Prelude to the Kātyāyanī–Mahiṣāsura Narrative
ततो भ्रातरि नष्टे च रम्भः कोपपरिप्लुतः वह्नौ स्वशीर्षं संक्षिद्य होतुमैच्चन् महाबलः
tato bhrātari naṣṭe ca rambhaḥ kopapariplutaḥ vahnau svaśīrṣaṃ saṃkṣidya hotumaiccan mahābalaḥ
ततो भ्रातरि नष्टे रम्भः कोपपरिप्लुतो महाबलः स्वशीर्षं वह्नौ संक्षिद्य होतुमैच्छत्।
{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
Grief and anger (śoka–krodha) can drive even the powerful into adharmic extremes. The verse sets up a moral correction: self-destruction, even when framed as ‘sacrifice,’ is not upheld as a righteous response; dharma requires restraint and right intention.
This is best classified under Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (narratives of lineages and their deeds), specifically an asuric episode illustrating conduct and consequences, rather than cosmogenesis (sarga/pratisarga) or manvantara focus.
The ‘offering of one’s head into fire’ symbolizes tamasic despair masquerading as ritual. Fire (vahni) here becomes a stage for misapplied yajña-logic—showing that ritual without sattvic discernment is spiritually sterile.