Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 165

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

Devanagari script

वृत्ते मुनिर्विवाहे तु शक्रादीन् प्राह दैवतान् अस्मिस्तीर्थे भवद्भिस्तु सप्तगोदावरे सदा

Transliteration

vṛtte munirvivāhe tu śakrādīn prāha daivatān asmistīrthe bhavadbhistu saptagodāvare sadā

Translation

[{"question": "What does ‘born from your hairs’ (tvad-roma-saṃbhūtāḥ) signify in Śaiva mythology?", "answer": "It is a standard Purāṇic idiom for instantaneous divine emanation: Śiva’s will externalizes as hosts (gaṇas) without ordinary birth, emphasizing their non-human, numinous origin and Śiva’s sovereignty over creation of forces."}, {"question": "Why are the gaṇas described as lion-faced and weapon-bearing?", "answer": "The imagery marks them as terrifying, liminal protectors suited for cosmic conflict (here, the Andhaka cycle). Their mixed/feral physiognomy is typical of gaṇa iconography, signaling power beyond human norms."}, {"question": "Who is Vīrabhadra in this context?", "answer": "Vīrabhadra functions as the foremost commander of Śiva’s forces—an embodiment of Śiva’s wrathful energy—often deployed when a decisive martial intervention is required."}]

Speakers

• A muni (sage) speaking to Śakra (Indra) and other deities

Primary Deities

• Indra
• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Tirtha Mahima (deities’ perpetual presence)
• Deva-sannidhya (divine immanence at pilgrimage sites)
• Ritual completion leading to sanctification of place

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does the sage’s injunction to the gods imply about Saptagodāvarī?

It asserts deva-sannidhya: the tirtha is not merely commemorative but continuously empowered by the abiding presence of Indra and other gods, making it perpetually efficacious for rites and pilgrimage.

Why is Indra (Śakra) singled out first (‘śakrādīn’)?

Indra commonly heads deva-lists in Purāṇic diction; invoking him first signals a formal address to the entire divine assembly and underscores the cosmic recognition of the tirtha.

How does this verse fit the Vamana Purana’s geographical agenda?

By tying a named Godāvarī tirtha (Saptagodāvarī) to a concrete ritual-historical episode and then declaring ongoing divine presence, the text converts narrative into a durable geographic-sacral marker for pilgrims.