Vamana Purana — Chanda & Munda Discover Katyayani, Shloka 22
Chanda and Munda Discover Katyayani; Mahishasura’s Proposal and the Vishnu-Panjara Protection
अभ्येत्य देवीं गगनस्थितो ऽपि स दुन्दुभिर्वाक्यमुवाच विप्र कुमारि दूतो ऽस्मि महासुरस्य रम्भात्मजस्याप्रतिमस्य युद्धे
abhyetya devīṃ gaganasthito 'pi sa dundubhirvākyamuvāca vipra kumāri dūto 'smi mahāsurasya rambhātmajasyāpratimasya yuddhe
Approaching the Goddess—though remaining stationed in the sky—Dundubhi spoke these words, O Brāhmaṇa: “O maiden, I am the messenger of the great Asura, the incomparable son of Rambhā, in this matter of war.”
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FAQs
The envoy’s posture—‘approaching’ yet staying in the sky—signals aggression mixed with fear, a hallmark of pride lacking inner steadiness. Dharma-teaching here is implicit: true strength does not require intimidation or boastful titles.
This remains within Carita/Vamśānucarita-style narrative: a dramatic speech-act within the historical-legendary account of conflicts involving Daityas and the Devī, not within sarga/pratisarga proper.
‘Gagana-sthita’ suggests distance and attempted superiority (speaking from above), while addressing the Devī as ‘kumārī’ can be read as rhetorical minimization—an asuric strategy—contrasted with the Devī’s transcendent power that is not diminished by such labeling.