Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 103

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

Devanagari script

पुष्पोत्तमानि रम्याणि सुरभीणि च नारद जातियुक्तानि देवेन स्वयमाचरितानि च

Transliteration

puṣpottamāni ramyāṇi surabhīṇi ca nārada jātiyuktāni devena svayamācaritāni ca

Translation

ఓ నారదా! అత్యుత్తమ పుష్పాలు మనోహరమై సువాసనతో కూడినవి; తమ తమ జాతి-లక్షణాలతో యుక్తమై, దేవుడు స్వయంగా వాటిని సృష్టించి/విన్యసించాడు।

Word by Word

• puṣpa-uttamāni: the best flowers
• puṣpa-uttamāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ramyāṇi: beautiful
• ramyāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with puṣpottamāni

• surabhīṇi: fragrant
• surabhīṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surabhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with puṣpottamāni

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• jāti-yuktāni: endowed with species/variety
• jāti-yuktāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāti (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj (धातु))
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त) used adjectivally, Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with puṣpottamāni

• devena: by the god
• devena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• svayam: by himself
• svayam: Prayojaka-bhāva (प्रयोजकभाव/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ācaritāni: performed/practised
• ācaritāni: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ācarita (कृदन्त; ā-√car (धातु))
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with puṣpottamāni

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada

Primary Deities

• Deva (unspecified)

Key Themes

• Tīrtha-māhātmya
• Sacred offerings (puṣpa)
• Divine craftsmanship in nature

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Nature’s excellence—beauty, fragrance, and diversity—is presented as divinely grounded, encouraging reverence toward the sacred environment and mindful use of flowers in worship rather than mere consumption.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Falls outside strict pañcalakṣaṇa categories; it is part of māhātmya-style descriptive theology that supports dharma through sacred-place glorification.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Best, fragrant, species-endowed’ flowers symbolize ordered plurality: many forms (jāti) harmonized under a single divine source—mirroring Purāṇic themes of unity behind diversity.