Vamana Purana — Chanda & Munda Discover Katyayani, Shloka 20

Chanda and Munda Discover Katyayani; Mahishasura’s Proposal and the Vishnu-Panjara Protection

Devanagari script

आहत्य भेरी रमकर्कशास्ते स्वर्गं परित्यज्य महीधरं तु आगम्य मूले शिविरं निवेश्य तस्थुश्च सञ्जा दनुनन्दनास्ते

Transliteration

āhatya bherī ramakarkaśāste svargaṃ parityajya mahīdharaṃ tu āgamya mūle śiviraṃ niveśya tasthuśca sañjā danunandanāste

Translation

他们擂起战鼓，声响粗厉而震荡，遂离开天界来到那座山。抵达山脚后，丹奴之子们安营扎寨，立于其处，整装待战。

Word by Word

• āhatya: having struck
• āhatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√han (हन्, धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya-kṛdanta; 'having struck/after striking'

• bherīm: kettledrum, war-drum
• bherīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bherī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular

• rama-karkaśāḥ: pleasant-and-harsh (loud/varied)
• rama-karkaśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rama (प्रातिपदिक) + karkaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (copulative) used adjectivally: 'pleasant and harsh (sounds)'; Masculine (पुं), Nominative (1st), Plural (बहुवचन) agreeing with implied subject (they)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• svargam: heaven
• svargam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुं), Accusative (2nd), Singular

• parityajya: having left, abandoning
• parityajya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pari-√tyaj (त्यज्, धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya-kṛdanta; 'having abandoned'

• mahī-dharam: mountain
• mahī-dharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'mahīyāḥ dharaḥ' = mountain; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adversative particle (निपात)

• āgamya: having come
• āgamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√gam (गम्, धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya-kṛdanta; 'having come'

• mūle: at the base/foot
• mūle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसक), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• śiviram: camp
• śiviram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• niveśya: having established
• niveśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-√viś (विश्, धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya-kṛdanta; 'having set up/established'

• tasthuḥ: stood, remained
• tasthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था, धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• sañjāḥ: Saṃjās (name/tribe)
• sañjāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sañjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्री), Nominative (1st), Plural; likely proper/collective designation (reading uncertain)

• danu-nandanāḥ: sons of Danu (Dānavas)
• danu-nandanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to te)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'danoḥ nandanāḥ' = sons of Danu; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural (reiterated)

Speakers

• Narratorial description (outer frame likely Pulastya → Nārada
• but not explicit in the verse)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Military mobilization
• Portents/war-drums

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames adharma’s momentum through martial noise and collective resolve: abandoning ‘svarga’ (a symbol of secured privilege) for conquest underscores how desire and rivalry propel conflict. It sets the stage for the Devī’s confrontation with disruptive powers.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classed under Vamśānucarita/Carita-type narration (accounts of lineages and their deeds), specifically the depiction of Dānavas’ actions within a conflict narrative rather than cosmogenesis (sarga) or dissolution (pralaya).

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘beating of the bherī’ functions as an audible marker of impending adharma and a ritualized commencement of battle; ‘camping at the mountain’s base’ suggests encroachment at the threshold—approaching the locus where the Devī’s power will be engaged.