Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 100

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

Devanagari script

कपिं प्राह वृणिष्व त्वं वरं यन्मनसोप्सितम् ऋतध्वजवचः श्रुत्वा इमं वरमयाचत

Transliteration

kapiṃ prāha vṛṇiṣva tvaṃ varaṃ yanmanasopsitam ṛtadhvajavacaḥ śrutvā imaṃ varamayācata

Translation

Ia berkata kepada sang kapi: “Pilihlah anugerah, apa pun yang diinginkan hatimu.” Mendengar ucapan Ṛtadhvaja, ia memohon anugerah ini.

Speakers

• Ṛtadhvaja (sage) speaking to the kapi; narrator reports the request.

Key Themes

• Boon-bestowal (vara)
• Reciprocity for service
• Intention (manas) as locus of desire
• Rishi–helper dialogue

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does ‘whatever is desired in your mind’ imply in Purāṇic boon scenes?

It signals an unrestricted or near-unrestricted boon, constrained implicitly by dharma and the boon-giver’s spiritual authority. Such phrasing heightens narrative suspense and often leads to a request that has broader consequences (etiological, moral, or geographical).

Is the boon itself known from this verse?

Not from the provided śloka alone. This verse is the hinge: invitation and acceptance. The specific boon must be read in the subsequent verses, which typically state the request and its granted form.

How does this connect to the Vāmana Purāṇa’s geographical emphasis?

In many Vāmana Purāṇa tīrtha cycles, boon dialogues culminate in the establishment, naming, or glorification of a site (tīrtha), a ritual rule, or a merit-fruit tied to a location. While this verse lacks place-names, it likely precedes an etiological statement in the next passage.