Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

इत्येमुक्त्वा स नृपः समुत्थाय त्वरान्वितः स्यन्दनानि द्विजाभ्यां स भ्रातृपुत्राय चार्पयत्

Transliteration

ityemuktvā sa nṛpaḥ samutthāya tvarānvitaḥ syandanāni dvijābhyāṃ sa bhrātṛputrāya cārpayat

Translation

Having spoken thus, the king rose up, filled with urgency, and he handed over the chariots to the two Brahmins; and he also entrusted them to his brother’s son.

Speakers

• Narrator voice (contextual epic narration; specific speaker not stated in the given excerpt)

Key Themes

• Respect to Brahmins (dvija-satkara)
• Royal duty and swift action
• Delegation/entrustment in dharmic travel

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why are the recipients called ‘dvija’ here?

Dvija (‘twice-born’) is a conventional Purāṇic honorific for initiated Brahmins (and sometimes the three higher varṇas). In narrative contexts it signals ritual authority and the king’s deference to dharma through service to Brahmins.

What is the narrative function of ‘entrusting the chariots’?

It marks a transition from speech to action: the king’s resolve becomes immediate travel/arrangement. Such logistical verses often precede a pilgrimage encounter or a meeting with a powerful ascetic whose tapas will drive the next episode.

Does this verse imply a gift (dāna) or merely a practical handover?

The verb arpayat can mean ‘gave’ or ‘entrusted.’ In context it most naturally reads as a practical entrustment for travel, though Purāṇic diction intentionally echoes dāna-language to frame royal conduct as dharmic generosity.