Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 40

Sukeshi’s Inquiry into Dharma: The Seven Dvipas and the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

जम्भं च पाशेन तथा निहत्य तारं तलेनाशनिसंनिभेन पादेन वृत्रं तरसा कुजम्भं निपातयामास बलं च मुष्ट्या

Transliteration

jambhaṃ ca pāśena tathā nihatya tāraṃ talenāśanisaṃnibhena pādena vṛtraṃ tarasā kujambhaṃ nipātayāmāsa balaṃ ca muṣṭyā

Translation

اس نے جمبھ کو پاش سے گرا دیا؛ تارا کو بجلی جیسے ہتھیلی کے وار سے؛ ورترا کو تیزی سے پاؤں کے ضرب سے؛ کُجمبھ کو پٹخ دیا اور بَل کو بھی مُکّے کے وار سے زیر کیا۔

Word by Word

• jambham: Jambha
• jambham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• pāśena: with a noose
• pāśena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• nihatya: having slain
• nihatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-√han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having struck down/killed’

• tāram: Tāra
• tāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• talena: with the palm/hand
• talena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसक), Instrumental, Singular

• aśani-sannibhena: thunderbolt-like
• aśani-sannibhena: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśani (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ‘like a thunderbolt’); Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; agrees with talena

• pādena: with (his) foot
• pādena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• vṛtram: Vṛtra
• vṛtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• tarasā: with force, swiftly
• tarasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular (often adverbial use)

• kujambham: Kujambha
• kujambham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kujambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• nipātayāmāsa: felled, knocked down
• nipātayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (पत् धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: Perfect periphrastic (लिट्-परस्मैपद, आम्-प्रत्यययुक्त), 3rd person, Singular; causative sense ‘caused to fall’

• balam: Bala (a daitya named Bala)
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• muṣṭyā: with (his) fist
• muṣṭyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt

Primary Deities

• Jaleśvara

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Divine martial prowess
• Subjugation of adharma

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma manifests as many ‘champions’ (named forces), yet it is overcome by steadiness and capability. The verse also implies proportional response: binding (pāśa) and direct blows (hand/foot/fist) are applied as required by circumstance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is heroic narrative (carita) within Vamśānucarita-style material—describing deeds in the cosmic-historical struggle between devas and daityas—rather than cosmogenesis or dissolution.

What is the symbolic significance?

Multiple methods of defeat (noose, palm like thunderbolt, foot, fist) suggest the completeness of divine agency: restraint, judgment, and decisive force. The ‘thunderbolt-like’ palm evokes Indra’s vajra imagery, reinforcing the idea of divine authority restoring order.