Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

ततः स्वरं समाकर्ण्य गालवस्ते अजानत गन्धर्वकन्येक चैते संदेहो नात्र विद्यते

Transliteration

tataḥ svaraṃ samākarṇya gālavaste ajānata gandharvakanyeka caite saṃdeho nātra vidyate

Translation

Then, on hearing the sound, Galava—though at first not recognizing its source—understood: “These are indeed Gandharva maidens; there is no doubt of it.”

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing Galava’s perception (no direct speech marker in the verse).

Key Themes

• Encounter with celestial beings
• Recognition of divine/celestial signs
• Tirtha-narrative framing (implied by chapter context)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is the identification “Gandharva maidens” significant in a tirtha-mahātmya context?

In Purāṇic tīrtha narratives, the appearance (or even the voice) of Gandharvas and their maidens often signals a sanctified zone where divine beings freely move; it functions as a literary marker of the site’s extraordinary purity and merit.

Does “svara” mean a musical sound or a spoken voice here?

Svara can denote both musical tone and voice. Given the Gandharva association (celestial musicians), the term naturally evokes a melodious, otherworldly sound, though the verse itself does not restrict it to singing alone.