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

{"scene_description": "Śiva (Hara) addresses Nandin, lord of the gaṇas, declaring certain victory; Nandin stands attentive, bearing martial insignia, as gaṇas gather behind.", "primary_figures": ["Śiva (Hara)", "Nandin"], "setting": "Pre-battle council space—rocky ground, banners, tridents, and assembled gaṇas awaiting orders.", "color_palette": ["ash-grey", "bull-white", "crimson", "iron-black", "gold", "twilight blue"], "tanjore_prompt": "Tanjore style, gold-leaf aura, Śiva speaking with authoritative gesture to Nandin, Nandin as dignified bull-headed/attendant figure, gaṇas in background, rich ornamentation and temple setting", "pahari_prompt": "Pahari miniature, gentle gradients, Śiva and Nandin in close dialogue, expressive hand gestures, minimal background with hints of camp and standards, refined linework", "kerala_mural_prompt": "Kerala mural, bold outlines, Śiva with crescent and third eye, Nandin listening in reverence, stylized gaṇas, strong reds and ochres, temple-mural composition", "pattachitra_prompt": "Pattachitra, narrative clarity, Śiva addressing Nandin with speech-scroll motif, rows of gaṇas, patterned borders, flat colors, folk dynamism"}

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.