Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Counsel to Andhaka, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

सा ताडिता बलवता भेरी दुर्योधनेन हि सत्वरं भैरवं रावं रुराव सुरभी यथा

Transliteration

sā tāḍitā balavatā bherī duryodhanena hi satvaraṃ bhairavaṃ rāvaṃ rurāva surabhī yathā

Translation

{"has_teaching": true, "teaching_type": "dharma", "core_concept": "kṣātra-dharma under divine leadership; certainty rooted in cosmic alignment (nimitta)", "teaching_summary": "Śiva’s declaration models decisive leadership: when dharma is aligned and signs confirm, hesitation is set aside and action is embraced.", "vedantic_theme": "Divine will (īśvara-saṅkalpa) as the stabilizing center amid conflict; fearlessness arising from alignment with dharma.", "practical_application": "When duty is clear, act without vacillation; seek confirmation through counsel and clarity, then commit fully."}

Word by Word

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Speakers

• Narrator voice

Primary Deities

• Shiva (contextual, via Andhaka cycle)

Key Themes

• Martial sound as intimidation
• Simile and sonic aesthetics
• Rapid escalation toward battle

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Does ‘bhairava’ here refer to the god Bhairava?

In this line it most naturally reads as an adjective meaning ‘terrifying’ qualifying the drum’s roar (bhairavaṃ rāvaṃ). While Bhairava is a Śaiva form, the grammar here does not require a theonym.

Why compare the drum’s sound to Surabhī’s roar?

Surabhī (Kāmadhenu) symbolizes a powerful, resonant, otherworldly sound. The simile conveys depth and force—suggesting the drum’s roar is not merely loud but portentous and commanding.

Is there any hidden geographical reference in these verses?

No. These verses are purely narrative and acoustic; they contain no named tīrthas, rivers, forests, or regions, which are the usual carriers of Vāmana Purāṇa’s geographic metadata.