Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

ततो गत्वा पर्यपुच्छत् ते ऊचतुरुभे अपि याथातथ्यं तयोस्ताभ्यां स्वमात्मानं निवेदितम्

Transliteration

tato gatvā paryapucchat te ūcaturubhe api yāthātathyaṃ tayostābhyāṃ svamātmānaṃ niveditam

Translation

ついでそこへ赴き、彼女は二人に問いかけた。二人はありのままに、真実をそのまま答え、そして彼女はその二人に自らの身元を明かした。

Speakers

• Narrator voice; reported speech: ‘both replied’ (te ūcatuḥ).

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Truthful testimony (yāthātathya)
• Revelation of identity (ātma-nivedana)
• Ritual/itinerary clarification

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the narrative function of ‘yāthātathyaṃ’ here?

It marks the reliability of the information being exchanged. In tīrtha-māhātmya passages, the sanctity and efficacy of rites are tied to correct knowledge; ‘yāthātathya’ asserts that the account is accurate and thus authoritative for subsequent ritual acts.

What does ‘svamātmānaṃ niveditam’ imply—confession, introduction, or revelation?

It indicates self-disclosure/identification. Depending on the broader episode, this can be a simple introduction (name/lineage) or a more charged revelation (status, vow, or purpose) that legitimizes the next pilgrimage action.

Why is detailed inquiry (paryapucchat) emphasized in pilgrimage narratives?

Because tīrtha practice is procedural: bathing points, timing, deity to be worshipped, and offerings. The Purāṇas often dramatize this as a question–answer exchange to encode ritual instructions in memorable narrative form.