Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 118

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

Devanagari script

यश्चैव जाम्बूवनदतुल्यवर्णः श्वेतं जटाभारमधारयिष्यत् स एष नूनं तपतां वरिष्ठो ऋतध्वजो नात्र विचारमस्ति

Transliteration

yaścaiva jāmbūvanadatulyavarṇaḥ śvetaṃ jaṭābhāramadhārayiṣyat sa eṣa nūnaṃ tapatāṃ variṣṭho ṛtadhvajo nātra vicāramasti

Translation

Et celui dont le teint est comparable au fruit jambu, qui porte une blanche masse de mèches emmêlées (jaṭā), est assurément le plus éminent des ascètes : Ṛtadhvaja. Il n’y a là aucun doute.

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the episode (identification of a person by ascetic marks); immediate interlocutors are clarified in the next verses (Nandayantī speaking).

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Śaṃbhu)

Key Themes

• Ascetic iconography (jaṭā, varṇa)
• Recognition of a mahātapasvin
• Ṛta (cosmic order/truth) as a spiritual ideal

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is ‘jāmbūvana-datulya-varṇa’ significant in Purāṇic description?

Purāṇas often use natural comparanda (fruits, metals, lotuses) to convey a recognizable sacred physiognomy. ‘Jāmbū’ suggests a dark, glossy hue—frequently associated with spiritual potency and a distinctive, memorable identity marker in narrative recognition scenes.

What does the name ‘Ṛtadhvaja’ imply beyond being a personal name?

Etymologically, ṛta denotes cosmic truth/order (a Vedic concept), and dhvaja is a banner/standard. The compound can signal a person whose ‘standard’ is truth—i.e., one aligned with dharma and cosmic order—fitting for a ‘foremost ascetic’.

Does ‘white matted hair’ have a symbolic meaning?

Yes. Jaṭā marks renunciation and tapas; ‘white’ can indicate age, purity, or an otherworldly radiance. In Purāṇic narrative, such details function as identifiers and as moral-spiritual cues about the person’s attained status.