Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

तमुपेत्याब्रवीद् राजा इन्द्रद्युम्नो महाभुजः तपस्विन् यौवने घोरमास्थितो ऽसि सुदुश्चरम्

Transliteration

tamupetyābravīd rājā indradyumno mahābhujaḥ tapasvin yauvane ghoramāsthito 'si suduścaram

Translation

Approaching him, King Indradyumna, the mighty-armed, spoke: “O ascetic, though in youth you have undertaken a fierce austerity, exceedingly difficult to perform.”

Speakers

• King Indradyumna addressing an unnamed tapasvin (ascetic).

Key Themes

• Tapas (austerity) and its rigor
• Royal encounter with asceticism
• Inquiry as a dharmic prelude to instruction

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the king emphasize the ascetic’s youth?

In Purāṇic ethics, youth is typically associated with sense-enjoyment and worldly pursuits; highlighting youth underscores the exceptional resolve required to adopt severe tapas early in life.

What does “ghora” tapas imply in Purāṇic usage?

“Ghora” indicates austerities that are intense and potentially body-mortifying—fasting, exposure to heat/cold, prolonged vows—performed to gain spiritual merit, boons, or purification.

Does this verse already signal a tirtha context?

Not directly by place-names here, but the Vāmana Purāṇa often frames such encounters within pilgrimage narratives; the dialogue typically leads to disclosure of motive, identity, and associated sacred geography in subsequent verses.