Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 38

Akhaṇḍa-Ekādaśī Vrata and the Vaiṣṇava Protective Hymn; Prelude to the Kātyāyanī–Mahiṣāsura Narrative

Devanagari script

नाशयामास सा यत्र दानवं महिषासुरम् नमरं रक्तबीजं च तथान्यान् सुरकण्टकान्

Transliteration

nāśayāmāsa sā yatra dānavaṃ mahiṣāsuram namaraṃ raktabījaṃ ca tathānyān surakaṇṭakān

Translation

“于彼处，凭此威力，她诛灭了达那婆摩醯沙苏罗、那摩罗与罗多毗阇，并且歼除其他诸多‘诸神之刺’。”

Word by Word

• नाशयामास: destroyed
• नाशयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: णश्/नश् (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): नाशयति

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्धबोधक-देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

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

• महिषासुरम्: Mahiṣāsura
• महिषासुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष+असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महिषरूपः असुरः / महिषस्य असुरः)

• नमरम्: Namara (a demon)
• नमरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामविशेषः

• रक्तबीजम्: Raktabīja
• रक्तबीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त+बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तं बीजं यस्य/रक्तबीजः) नामविशेषः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘सुरकण्टकान्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सुरकण्टकान्: tormentors of the gods
• सुरकण्टकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर+कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुराणां कण्टकाः = gods' thorns/tormentors)

Speakers

• Narrative voice (implied) within the Pulastya–Nārada dialogue framework; direct speaker not explicitly marked in this verse

Primary Deities

• Kātyāyanī (Devī)
• Viṣṇu (implicit via ‘Vaiṣṇava pañjara’ context)

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Devi Tradition
• Sectarian Harmony
• Rituals/Mantra (Protection)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma is characterized as ‘surakaṇṭaka’—a thorn that obstructs cosmic welfare. The ethical thrust is that divine power (and by extension, righteous action) removes systemic harm, restoring conditions for dharma and protection of the vulnerable.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is Carita/Vamśānucarita-type content: exemplary episodes of divine intervention against demonic forces, embedded in the Purāṇic narrative-teaching mode.

What is the symbolic significance?

Mahiṣāsura often symbolizes brute, tamasic force and delusion; Raktabīja symbolizes proliferating ego-patterns—each ‘drop’ spawning more conflict. Their defeat signifies disciplined divine intelligence overcoming both blunt violence and self-replicating negativity.