Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

घृताच्यास्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा वानरस्त्वरितक्रमः पृष्ठतो ऽस्याः समागच्छन्नदीमन्वेव कौशिकीम्

Transliteration

ghṛtācyāstadvacaḥ śrutvā vānarastvaritakramaḥ pṛṣṭhato 'syāḥ samāgacchannadīmanveva kauśikīm

Translation

Hearing those words of Ghṛtācī, the monkey, quick in his steps, came along behind her, following the river Kauśikī.

Speakers

• Narrator voice describing Ghṛtācī and the vānarapati/monkey’s movement.

Key Themes

• Pilgrimage movement along a river
• Tīrtha-topography via travel description
• Apsaras presence in tīrtha narratives

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is the Kauśikī river important in this passage?

The verse anchors the narrative to a specific hydrosacred landmark. In the Vāmana Purāṇa’s mahātmya style, rivers are not mere scenery: they are carriers of tīrtha-merit, and following a river often implies approaching its fords (tīrthas), confluences, or associated hermitages.

How do we reconcile Ghṛtācī here with Vedavatī in the previous verse?

The immediate sequence suggests either (a) a shift in identification—Ghṛtācī is the ‘she’ who spoke, and the prior naming is part of a layered/variant tradition—or (b) a textual/recensional overlap where two name-threads (Vedavatī and Ghṛtācī) converge. Such name-variation is common in Purāṇic transmission and should be checked against the manuscript/edition used.

Does “following the river” imply a specific ritual act?

Not explicitly in this śloka, but in tīrtha literature, river-following commonly precedes bathing (snāna), offerings (tarpana), or visiting named ghāṭas. The verse sets up that ritual-geographic progression.