Vamana Purana — Nara-Narayana's Tapas, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

महाव्रती च धनदस्तस्य शिष्यश्च विर्यवान् कर्णोदर इति ख्यातो जात्या शूद्रो महातपाः

Transliteration

mahāvratī ca dhanadastasya śiṣyaśca viryavān karṇodara iti khyāto jātyā śūdro mahātapāḥ

Translation

财主天（Dhanada）是严持大誓戒者。他的弟子勇力具足，名为“迦尔诺达罗”（Karṇodara）——虽生为首陀罗（Śūdra），却是大苦行者。

Word by Word

• mahāvratī: one of great vows/very austere
• mahāvratī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• dhanadaḥ: Dhanada (Kubera)
• dhanadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• śiṣyaḥ: disciple
• śiṣyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• vīryavān: valiant, powerful
• vīryavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• karṇodaraḥ: Karṇodara (name)
• karṇodaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇa-udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-प्रयोग अव्यय (quotative particle)

• khyātaḥ: known/called
• khyātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jātyā: by birth
• jātyā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रकारे (by birth/as to caste)

• śūdraḥ: a Śūdra
• śūdraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• mahātapāḥ: of great austerity
• mahātapāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speakers

• Not explicit in the provided verses (commonly Pulastya → Nārada frame)

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Vrata/Rituals
• Tapas/Austerity
• Varṇa-transcending spiritual merit
• Guru-Śiṣya Lineage

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse teaches that religious excellence is measured by vrata and tapas, not by birth-status; a Śūdra can be celebrated as mahātapā through disciplined practice and legitimate discipleship.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita/lineage record: it continues the succession narrative, functioning as a doctrinal credentialing device typical of Purāṇic composition.

What is the symbolic significance?

By explicitly juxtaposing 'jātyā śūdraḥ' with 'mahātapāḥ', the text symbolically elevates inner qualification (adhikāra via practice) over external identity, aligning Śaiva vrata with universal accessibility.