Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

साहम्भयागाता भद्रे स्नातुं पुण्यां सरस्वतीम् नैमिषे काञ्चनाक्षीं तु विख्यातां धर्ममातरम्

Transliteration

sāhambhayāgātā bhadre snātuṃ puṇyāṃ sarasvatīm naimiṣe kāñcanākṣīṃ tu vikhyātāṃ dharmamātaram

Translation

সে বলল—“হে ভদ্রে, ভয়ে আমি এখানে এসেছি—নৈমিষে পবিত্র সরস্বতীতে স্নান করতে এবং ধর্মমাতা রূপে প্রসিদ্ধ কাঞ্চনাক্ষীর দর্শন পেতে।”

Speakers

• Unnamed woman explaining her purpose to Citrāṅgadā

Primary Deities

• Sarasvatī (river-goddess)
• Kāñcanākṣī (Dharma-mātā figure)

Key Themes

• Tīrtha-snāna (sacred bathing)
• Fear as catalyst for pilgrimage and refuge
• Dharma personified through a maternal goddess figure
• Sacred geography of Sarasvatī–Naimiṣa

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is bathing in the Sarasvatī emphasized in tīrtha-māhātmya passages?

Sarasvatī is both a river and a goddess; snāna in her waters is portrayed as purifying sin, removing fear, and restoring dharmic order. In many Purāṇic geographies, Sarasvatī tīrthas are key nodes for expiation and vow-fulfillment.

What is the significance of Naimiṣa in Purāṇic sacred geography?

Naimiṣa (often Naimiṣāraṇya) is a premier forest-tīrtha associated with long sacrificial sessions, sages’ assemblies, and the preservation/transmission of Purāṇic lore. Mentioning it immediately elevates the episode into a canonical pilgrimage landscape.

Who is Kāñcanākṣī as ‘Dharma-mātā’ in this context?

Within tīrtha sections, local or regional goddesses are frequently identified by epithets (here ‘golden-eyed’) and functions (‘Mother of Dharma’). This frames her as a protective śakti who stabilizes dharma, grants refuge, and supports pilgrims seeking purification or relief from भय (fear).