Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

तावन्योन्यं सुतीक्ष्णाग्रैः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः रुक्मपुङ्खैर्महावेगैराजघ्नतुरुभावपि

Transliteration

tāvanyonyaṃ sutīkṣṇāgraiḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ rukmapuṅkhairmahāvegairājaghnaturubhāvapi

Translation

Rồi cả hai bên đều đánh trúng nhau bằng những mũi tên có đầu nhọn vô cùng, khớp nối tinh xảo, lông đuôi mạ vàng, được phóng đi với sức mạnh lớn.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two (both of them)
• तौ: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual)

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; reciprocal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; परस्पर (reciprocally)

• सुतीक्ष्णाग्रैः: with very sharp-pointed (ones)
• सुतीक्ष्णाग्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुतीक्ष्णाग्र (प्रातिपदिक: सु + तीक्ष्ण + अग्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of शरैः)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• संनतपर्वभिः: with bent joints/knots (of the shaft)
• संनतपर्वभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनतपर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक: संनत + पर्वन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of शरैः)

• रुक्मपुङ्खैः: with golden-feathered (arrows)
• रुक्मपुङ्खैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुक्मपुङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक: रुक्म + पुङ्ख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of शरैः)

• महावेगैः: with great speed
• महावेगैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावेग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + वेग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of शरैः)

• आजघ्नतुः: struck/attacked
• आजघ्नतुः: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual); परस्मैपद

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: कर्ता (Karta; apposition to तौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन

• अपि: also/indeed
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), ‘also/indeed’

Speakers

• Narratorial (frame dialogue not explicit in these verses; commonly Pulastya → Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa)

Primary Deities

• Indra (implied as opponent)
• Andhaka

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Reciprocal violence
• Epic battle description (yuddha-varṇana)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Mutual striking underscores how conflict escalates through retaliation; Purāṇic battle scenes often imply that without dharma-guidance, strength breeds cyclical harm.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita/Vamśānucarita-style episode embedded in deity–asura antagonism; it functions as narrative support for later theological or moral conclusions.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘well-crafted’ and ‘gold-fletched’ arrows symbolize refined capability; the Purāṇa contrasts refinement of means with the need for refinement of ends (dharma).