Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 105

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

Devanagari script

यदा घृताच्यां तनयं जनिष्यसि महाबलम् इत्येवमुक्ताः संहृष्टः स तदा कपिकुञ्जरः

Transliteration

yadā ghṛtācyāṃ tanayaṃ janiṣyasi mahābalam ityevamuktāḥ saṃhṛṣṭaḥ sa tadā kapikuñjaraḥ

Translation

Quando lhe foi dito assim — «Tu gerarás em Ghṛtācī um filho de grande força» — aquele macaco, semelhante a um elefante, alegrou-se então.

Speakers

• Narrator voice (Purāṇic narrator continuing the episode; implied dialogue addressed to the kapi)

Primary Deities

• (Implicit) Pitṛs (ancestral deities)
• (Implicit) Devas

Key Themes

• Progeny and destiny (putra-prāpti)
• Apsaras–hero unions in Purāṇic narrative
• Auspicious prediction as narrative catalyst

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is Ghṛtācī in Purāṇic literature, and why is her mention significant here?

Ghṛtācī is an apsaras (celestial nymph) who appears across Purāṇas and epics as a figure through whom extraordinary births occur. Her presence typically signals a semi-divine lineage and a narrative turning point (here, the promise of a mighty son).

What does the epithet “kapikuñjara” convey?

It is a poetic compound meaning “elephant-like monkey,” emphasizing immense size, strength, and heroic capacity—often used to mark a monkey-hero as exceptional among “plavatām” (leapers/jumpers).

Is this verse directly teaching tīrtha-mahima?

Indirectly. In tīrtha sections, such episodes often function as embedded itihāsa: a story that motivates or sanctifies later actions (such as bathing, worship, or travel) connected to a sacred river or site.