Vamana Purana — Prahlada vs Nara-Narayana, Shloka 29

Prahlada’s Defeat by Nara-Narayana and Victory through Bhakti

Devanagari script

नीतस्तेनातिरौद्रेण पन्नगेन रसातलम् निर्विषश्चापि तत्याज च्यवनं भुजगोत्तमः

Transliteration

nītastenātiraudreṇa pannagena rasātalam nirviṣaścāpi tatyāja cyavanaṃ bhujagottamaḥ

Translation

ఆ అత్యంత ఉగ్ర పన్నగుడు అతనిని రసాతలానికి తీసుకెళ్లాడు; విషరహితుడైన ఆ భుజగోత్తముడు తరువాత చ్యవనుని విడిచిపెట్టాడు।

Word by Word

• नीतः: led/taken
• नीतः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीत (कृदन्त; √नी)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Past participle, Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana/Agent (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc/Neut, Instrumental, Singular)

• अतिरौद्रेण: by the exceedingly fierce
• अतिरौद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिरौद्र (प्रातिपदिक; अति+रौद्र)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc/Neut, Instrumental, Singular)

• पन्नगेन: by the serpent
• पन्नगेन: Karana/Agent (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

• रसातलम्: Rasātala (netherworld)
• रसातलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसातल (प्रातिपदिक; रस+अतल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• निर्विषः: venomless
• निर्विषः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विष (प्रातिपदिक; निर्+विष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (particle: also/even)

• तत्याज: abandoned/let go
• तत्याज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Perfect, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada)

• च्यवनम्: Cyavana
• च्यवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: च्यवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• भुजगोत्तमः: the best of serpents
• भुजगोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजग-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; भुजग+उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Speakers

• Narrative layer not specified in input (commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa framing)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Hari)

Key Themes

• Divine protection
• Transformation of hostility
• Netherworld cosmography (Pātāla)
• Power of devotion

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even when circumstances worsen (being taken to Rasātala), divine remembrance is not portrayed as merely comforting but as causally transformative—turning the aggressor into a non-harming agent who ultimately releases the victim.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily Vamśānucarita / narrative exemplum. The mention of Rasātala lightly touches purāṇic loka-structure (cosmography), but the dominant function is didactic story.

What is the symbolic significance?

Rasātala can signify descent into extreme adversity or the 'lower' states of consciousness. The venomless serpent releasing the sage suggests that, under divine influence, even forces that drag one downward lose their power to harm and become instruments that end the ordeal.