Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Counsel to Andhaka, Shloka 64

Shukra’s Curse on King Danda and Prahlada’s Counsel to Andhaka on Dharma

Devanagari script

इत्थं दुरात्मा दनुसैन्यपालस्तदान्धको योद्धुमना हरेण महाचलं मन्दरमभ्युपेयिवान् स कालपाशावसितो हि मन्दधीः

Transliteration

itthaṃ durātmā danusainyapālastadāndhako yoddhumanā hareṇa mahācalaṃ mandaramabhyupeyivān sa kālapāśāvasito hi mandadhīḥ

Translation

Thus, that evil-souled Andhaka, commander of the Dānu host, intent on fighting with Hara, approached the great mountain Mandara—indeed, dull-witted, he was already ensnared by the noose of Time (Death).

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Hara)
• Andhaka

Key Themes

• Approach to the battle-ground
• Kāla (Time/Death) as inescapable destiny
• Moral framing of the antagonist (durātmā, manda-dhī)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the significance of Mandara here?

Mandara is a mythic 'great mountain' frequently appearing in Purāṇic cosmography and narratives (notably as the churning mountain). Here it functions as a named, elevated battle-setting/landmark anchoring the episode geographically.

What does 'kālapāśāvasita' imply about Andhaka’s fate?

It signals inevitability: Andhaka’s march is portrayed as already determined by Kāla (Time/Death). The phrase frames the coming defeat as cosmically ordained rather than merely tactical.

Is 'Hara' a reference to Viṣṇu or Śiva?

In standard Purāṇic usage, 'Hara' is a principal epithet of Śiva. The verse explicitly sets Andhaka’s intent as fighting 'with Hara,' aligning the episode with the Śaiva Andhaka-vadha cycle.