Vamana Purana — Chanda & Munda Discover Katyayani, Shloka 42

Chanda and Munda Discover Katyayani; Mahishasura’s Proposal and the Vishnu-Panjara Protection

Devanagari script

सा तेन रक्षिता ब्रह्मन् दुर्गा दानवसत्तमम् अवध्यं दैवतैः सर्वेर्महिषं प्रत्यपीयत्

Transliteration

sā tena rakṣitā brahman durgā dānavasattamam avadhyaṃ daivataiḥ sarvermahiṣaṃ pratyapīyat

Translation

ஓ பிராமணரே, அந்த விஷ்ணு-பஞ்சரத்தால் காக்கப்பட்ட துர்கை, எல்லாத் தேவர்களாலும் கொல்ல இயலாத தானவச் சிறந்தவன் மகிஷனை நோக்கி முன்னேறினாள்.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• tena: by that/with that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instr./3rd), एकवचन

• rakṣitā: protected
• rakṣitā: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'protected'

• brahman: O Brahman (sage)
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• durgā: Durgā
• durgā: Karta (कर्ता/subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to sā

• dānava-sattamam: the best of the Dānavas
• dānava-sattamam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (genitive: 'best among Dānavas'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc./2nd), एकवचन

• avadhyam: un-slayable; invulnerable
• avadhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + vadhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ (negated adjective); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; dānava-sattamam इति विशेषणम्

• daivataiḥ: by the gods
• daivataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instr./3rd), बहुवचन

• sarvaiḥ: by all
• sarvaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instr./3rd), बहुवचन; daivataiḥ इति विशेषणम्

• mahiṣam: the buffalo (demon)
• mahiṣam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc./2nd), एकवचन

• pratyapīyat: went towards/advanced against
• pratyapīyat: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: प्रति; धातुरूप: अपि-इयत् (aoristic/irregular past form in transmission)

Speakers

• Narrative layer not explicit in the excerpt; commonly in Vāmana Purāṇa framed as Pulastya speaking to Nārada (needs confirmation from surrounding verses).

Primary Deities

• Durgā
• Viṣṇu (as protective presence)
• Śiva/Śambhu (as revealer of the pañjara in the surrounding context)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Śakti worship
• Vaishnavism
• Shaivism
• Sectarian Harmony
• Mantra/Kavaca (Protective Rite)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even the ‘invulnerable’ (avadhya) power of adharma can be overcome when one is aligned with divine protection and right purpose. The verse also models dharmic reliance: Durgā acts, yet her efficacy is framed as supported by sacred protection (kavaca), emphasizing disciplined spiritual means alongside valor.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

This passage functions under Vamśānucarita / narrative exempla (ākhyāna) rather than cosmogenesis. It is a didactic mythic episode illustrating the power of a protective rite and divine cooperation.

What is the symbolic significance?

Mahiṣa signifies brute, tamasic force and arrogant invulnerability; Durgā represents awakened śakti. The ‘protection’ by Viṣṇu-pañjara symbolizes that śakti operates most effectively when consciousness (Viṣṇu/Cakrapāṇi as sustaining, ordering principle) is established as inner refuge.