Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

भारवाही ततः खिन्नो दशब्दशतिके गते काले जगाम निर्वेदात् समं पित्रा तु शाकलम्

Transliteration

bhāravāhī tataḥ khinno daśabdaśatike gate kāle jagāma nirvedāt samaṃ pitrā tu śākalam

Translation

Entonces el cargador, agotado, cuando hubo transcurrido un período de mil años, partió por desapego (nirveda) junto con su padre hacia Śākala.

Speakers

• Narrator voice continuing the account; explicit interlocutors not present in the excerpt.

Key Themes

• Nirveda (disenchantment) leading to movement/renunciation
• Long time-span (mythic chronology)
• Pilgrimage/relocation motif within tirtha narrative

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the significance of the ‘one thousand years’ (daśābdaśatike) in Purāṇic narrative?

Such large time units are a standard Purāṇic device to mark prolonged wandering, penance, or karmic maturation. It signals that the episode is mythic/legendary rather than strictly historical chronology, emphasizing endurance and the eventual turning-point (nirveda).

What does ‘nirveda’ imply here—renunciation or mere frustration?

Nirveda is a technical ethical-psychological term meaning disenchantment with worldly striving. It can range from deep spiritual detachment to a narrative trigger for seeking a new place, teacher, or sacred site. Here it motivates departure after long hardship (‘khinnaḥ’).

Where is Śākala, and why might it matter in a geography-oriented Purāṇa?

Śākala is a toponym known in Sanskrit literature, often linked with the northwestern region (commonly associated with the Śākala/Śākalya area). In a geography-focused Purāṇa, naming Śākala anchors the legend to a recognizable spatial node, potentially connecting routes of movement between tirthas (the chapter’s broader frame would clarify its linkage to Saro-tirtha).