Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

अथोवाच नृपो ब्रह्मन् ममापि ललनोत्तमा नष्टा कृतश्रमस्यापि कस्याहं कथयामि ताम्

Transliteration

athovāca nṛpo brahman mamāpi lalanottamā naṣṭā kṛtaśramasyāpi kasyāhaṃ kathayāmi tām

Translation

Then the king said: “O Brahmin, my own best of women has been lost. Even though I am exhausted, to whom can I tell of her (and my plight)?”

Speakers

• The king speaking to a Brahmin (unnamed in the given excerpt).

Key Themes

• Viraha (separation)
• Human grief within Purāṇic narrative
• Seeking counsel from a Brahmin

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the narrative function of the king’s lament here?

It marks a turning point from action to confession: the king’s loss becomes the motive for seeking guidance, help, or a quest, a common Purāṇic device to propel the next episode.

Why address a Brahmin in moments of crisis?

In Purāṇic idiom, a Brahmin represents dharma, counsel, and ritual competence; approaching him frames the problem as one requiring righteous guidance, not merely force.