Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

तानापतत एवाशु बाणांश्चन्द्रार्द्धसन्निभान् चिच्छेद बाणैरपरैर्निर्बिभेद च दानवम्

Transliteration

tānāpatata evāśu bāṇāṃścandrārddhasannibhān ciccheda bāṇairaparairnirbibheda ca dānavam

Translation

Nang ang mga palasong iyon ay mabilis na sumugod, pinutol niya ang mga iyon sa pamamagitan ng iba pang palaso—na kahawig ng kalahating buwan—at tinuhog din niya ang Dānava.

Word by Word

• तान्: those (arrows)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• आपततः: as they were coming/falling (towards him)
• आपततः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-पत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध)?, एकवचन; प्रयोगार्थः: ‘तान् आपततः’ = falling/coming towards (him)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: शीघ्रार्थक अव्यय (adverb)

• बाणान्: arrows
• बाणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• चन्द्र-अर्द्ध-सन्निभान्: resembling a half-moon
• चन्द्र-अर्द्ध-सन्निभान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (उपमान-निर्देश); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• चिच्छेद: cut (them)
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• अपरैः: with other (arrows)
• अपरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• निर्बिभेद: pierced
• निर्बिभेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: नि

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दानवम्: the demon
• दानवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (frame likely Pulastya–Nārada
• but not provable from these lines alone).

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Martial skill (archery techniques)
• Protection by interception (cutting incoming missiles)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The passage contrasts destructive force with controlled skill: the defender neutralizes harm first (cutting incoming arrows) before striking back, suggesting a dharmic preference for protection and restraint even amid conflict.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It is narrative action (carita) embedded in Vamśānucarita-style storytelling—an episodic depiction of conflict rather than a doctrinal section on sarga/pratisarga.

What is the symbolic significance?

Half-moon arrows (candrārdha) can symbolize precision and measured response—cool, ‘lunar’ control—set against the raw aggression of an onrushing attack.