Vamana Purana — Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva, Shloka 55

The Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva: Himavan Grants the Marriage

Devanagari script

अहं यत्तपसात्मानं शोषयामि कृशोदरि बाल्ये ऽपि संयततनुस्तत्तु श्लाघ्यं द्विजन्मनाम्

Transliteration

ahaṃ yattapasātmānaṃ śoṣayāmi kṛśodari bālye 'pi saṃyatatanustattu ślāghyaṃ dvijanmanām

Translation

噢纤腰者，我以苦行（tapas）使自身枯槁、克制其身，纵在童年亦然；如此身行的约束，确为二次生者（dvija）之中所称赞。

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (कर्तृकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यत्: that (which)
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative/conjunctive: 'that/which')

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (करणकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: (my) self/body
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शोषयामि: I emaciate/dry up
• शोषयामि: कर्ता (कर्तृकारक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative) भावः—शोषयति = 'causes to dry/emaciate'

• कृशोदरि: O slender-waisted one
• कृशोदरि: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृश-उदरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—कृशम् उदरं यस्याः सा

• बाल्ये: in childhood
• बाल्ये: अधिकरण (अधिकरणकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (particle: 'even/also')

• संयततनुः: (I) with restrained body
• संयततनुः: कर्ता (कर्तृकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संयत-तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—संयता तनुः यस्य (controlled-bodied); अहम् इति विशेषणम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्ता/विषय (वाक्यविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; 'that (act)'

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• श्लाघ्यम्: praiseworthy
• श्लाघ्यम्: विधेय (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लाघ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• द्विजन्मनाम्: of the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजन्मनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि-जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—द्वे जन्मनी यस्य (ब्राह्मणादि); षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः

Speakers

• Unspecified in input; speaker defends/justifies their tapas to a woman addressed as ‘kṛśodari’

Key Themes

• Tapas (austerity)
• Brahmacarya / self-restraint
• Dharma norms for dvija
• Youthful discipline

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse asserts that disciplined restraint (saṃyama) is a virtue even when practiced early. In Purāṇic dharma discourse, tapas is valued not as self-harm but as training the senses and stabilizing intention.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Didactic material embedded in narrative (ākhyāna). It is not a sarga/pratisarga passage; it supports dharma instruction within the story framework.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Drying up the body’ symbolizes reducing attachment to bodily comfort and ego-claims. The mention of dvija frames tapas as a culturally sanctioned pathway to inner authority and spiritual maturity.