Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 157

Shukra’s Curse on King Danda and Andhaka’s Challenge to Shiva

Devanagari script

सुरैः सरुद्रैः संप्राप्तस्तत्तीर्थ हाटकाह्वयम् समायातेषु देवेषु गन्धर्वेष्वप्सरस्सु च

Transliteration

suraiḥ sarudraiḥ saṃprāptastattīrtha hāṭakāhvayam samāyāteṣu deveṣu gandharveṣvapsarassu ca

Translation

That sacred ford (tīrtha), known by the name Hāṭaka, was reached by the gods together with the Rudras; and when the gods had assembled there—along with the Gandharvas and the Apsarases—(the ensuing events took place).

Speakers

• Narratorial voice (Purāṇic narrator continuing the account)

Primary Deities

• Devas
• Rudras
• Gandharvas
• Apsarases

Key Themes

• Tirtha Mahima
• Divine assembly at sacred geography
• Śaiva celestial presence (Rudras) within a tīrtha setting

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the significance of the name ‘Hāṭaka’ for a tīrtha?

Hāṭaka literally denotes ‘gold’ and, as a tīrtha-name, signals exceptional sanctity and merit—often implying a place whose spiritual ‘value’ is likened to gold, or where divine gatherings and boons are especially accessible.

Why are the Rudras mentioned alongside the Devas at a tīrtha?

Their inclusion highlights the Purāṇic pattern of shared sacred space: tīrthas are not sectarian. The presence of Rudras (Śaiva divinities) with Devas, Gandharvas, and Apsarases frames the site as cosmically important and ritually potent.

Does this verse itself identify a river or lake?

It explicitly names only the tīrtha ‘Hāṭaka’. Any associated river/lake/forest would need the surrounding verses; here the geographic datum is the tīrtha-name alone.