Vamana Purana — Skanda Slays Taraka & Mahisha, Shloka 61

Skanda’s Svastyayana and the Slaying of Taraka and Mahisha

Devanagari script

नाडीजङ्घो ऽङ्घ्रिपातैश्च मुष्टिभिर्जानुनासुरान् कीलभिर्वज्रतुल्याभिर्जघान बलवान् मुने

Transliteration

nāḍījaṅgho 'ṅghripātaiśca muṣṭibhirjānunāsurān kīlabhirvajratulyābhirjaghāna balavān mune

Translation

圣者啊，力大无比的那迪姜伽（Nāḍījaṅgha）以足踢、拳击与膝撞击倒阿修罗；又以如钉如桩、威同金刚（vajra）之器，诛杀其众。

Word by Word

• नाडी-जङ्घः: he whose shanks are like tubes/veins (Nāḍījaṅgha)
• नाडी-जङ्घः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडी + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (नाड्यः जङ्घासु यस्य सः)

• अङ्घ्रि-पातैः: with kicks/foot-strikes
• अङ्घ्रि-पातैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्घ्रि + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अङ्घ्रेः पातैः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुष्टिभिः: with fists
• मुष्टिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• जानुना: with the knee
• जानुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• असुरान्: demons/asuras
• असुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• कीलभिः: with spikes/pegs
• कीलभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वज्र-तुल्याभिः: equal to thunderbolts
• वज्र-तुल्याभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कीलभिः इत्यस्य); तत्पुरुष-समासः (वज्रेण तुल्याः)

• जघान: slew/struck down
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बलवान्: mighty
• बलवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नाडी-जङ्घः)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic sūta/ṛṣi voice) addressing a sage (mune) within the Andhaka-vadha frame

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Andhaka-vadha cycle
• Martial valor and bodily combat
• Asura–Deva conflict
• Hyperbolic weapon imagery (vajra-simile)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is Nāḍījaṅgha in this passage?

Nāḍījaṅgha is presented as a named combatant in the Andhaka-related battle narration. The verse emphasizes his physical prowess—kicks, punches, and knee-strikes—suggesting a close-quarters melee rather than chariot-archery.

What does ‘kīla’ mean here—ritual peg or weapon?

While kīla can denote a peg/pin in general (and in other contexts a stake), here it functions as a spike-like weapon or implement used in battle, reinforced by the simile ‘vajra-tulya’ (thunderbolt-like) indicating lethal hardness and impact.

Does this verse contribute to the Vāmana Purāṇa’s sacred geography?

Not directly. This śloka is purely martial description within the Andhaka-vadha narrative and contains no named tīrtha, river, or region.