Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 9

Nara-Narayana’s Tapas, Indra’s Temptation, and the Burning of Kama: The Origin of Ananga and the Shiva-Linga Episode

Devanagari script

ततो वसन्ते संप्राप्ते सिंशुका ज्वलनप्रभाः निष्पत्राः सततं रेजुः शोमभयन्तो धरातलम्

Transliteration

tato vasante saṃprāpte siṃśukā jvalanaprabhāḥ niṣpatrāḥ satataṃ rejuḥ śomabhayanto dharātalam

Translation

随后，当春季来临时，似火焰般辉耀的辛舒迦树（siṃśukā），虽无叶片，却不断放光，仿佛在装点大地的表面。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vasante: in spring
• vasante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃprāpte: having arrived / on arrival
• saṃprāpte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + prāp (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter agreeing with vasante; ‘when (it) had arrived’

• siṃśukāḥ: siṃśukā trees
• siṃśukāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃśukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)

• jvalana-prabhāḥ: fire-bright
• jvalana-prabhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvalana + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘jvalanasya prabhā’ = having fire-like radiance

• niṣpatrāḥ: leafless
• niṣpatrāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥ + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘those whose leaves are gone’

• satataṃ: constantly
• satataṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage (अव्ययवत्), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• rejuḥ: shone
• rejuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: raj (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Plural (बहुवचन)

• śoma-bhayantaḥ: frightening the frost/cold
• śoma-bhayantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoma + bhayanta (प्रातिपदिक; bhī-धातोः शतृ)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘śomam bhayantaḥ’ = frightening the cold/frost

• dharā-talam: the surface of the earth
• dharā-talam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘dharāyāḥ talaṃ’

Speakers

• Narrative layer not explicit in the given verse-set; commonly Pulastya → Nārada framing

Key Themes

• Vasanta (spring) description
• Nature imagery
• Pilgrimage/āśrama atmosphere

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse highlights renewal and beauty emerging even from apparent austerity (leaflessness). Ethically, it supports the Purāṇic theme that disciplined simplicity can still be luminous—an indirect praise of tapas and restraint.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Ancillary narrative/descriptive material supporting a tīrtha/āśrama account; loosely within carita-style narration rather than the five primary lakṣaṇas.

What is the symbolic significance?

Leafless yet radiant trees evoke the ideal of inner brilliance without external ornament—often a poetic analogue for ascetic virtue within sacred landscapes.