Prahlada's Counsel to Andhaka
PrahladaCounselDharma21 Shlokas

Adhyaya 40: Shukra’s Curse on King Danda and Prahlada’s Counsel to Andhaka on Dharma

शुक्रशापः—दण्डविनाशः तथा परदारवर्जनधर्मोपदेशः (Śukraśāpaḥ—Daṇḍavināśaḥ tathā Paradāravarjanadharmopadeśaḥ)

Shukra's Curse Continued

Pulastya, in dialogue with Nārada, narrates a two-part ethical and theologically syncretic episode that foregrounds asura-dharma and the inviolability of divine order. First, Araja (Śukra’s daughter) is violated by King Daṇḍa, prompting Śukra’s return from Pātāla and his juridical curse: within seven nights Daṇḍa, his realm, army, retinue, and vehicles are reduced to ashes by a rain of stones—an exemplary Purāṇic articulation of tapas-backed brahmanical authority. The narrative then pivots to Andhaka’s hubris against Tryambaka (Śiva), where Prahlāda counsels restraint through a didactic discourse attributed to Devarṣi Asita on dharma, especially the categorical prohibition of parādāra (coveting another’s wife). The chapter thus integrates Shaiva supremacy (Śaṅkara’s invincibility) with moral governance, presenting transgression as the cause of political and cosmic collapse rather than mere sectarian rivalry.

Divine Beings

शुक्र (Śukra)शङ्कर/त्र्यम्बक/हर (Śaṅkara/Tryambaka/Hara)भवानी/गिरिकन्या/गिरिसुता (Bhavānī/Girikanyā)इन्द्र/सहस्राक्ष (Indra/Sahasrākṣa)

Sacred Geography

मन्दरपर्वत (Mandara Mountain)पाताल (Pātāla)

Mortal & Asura Figures

पुलस्त्य (Pulastya)नारद (Nārada)प्रह्लाद (Prahlāda)अन्धक (Andhaka)अरजा (Arajā)दण्ड (Daṇḍa)शम्बर (Śambara)दुर्योधन (Duryodhana—an asura figure here)असित (Asita)

Key Content Points

  • Śukra discovers Araja’s dishonor and pronounces a tapas-powered curse that annihilates King Daṇḍa and his entire polity within seven nights via grāvavṛṣṭi (stone-rain), illustrating punitive cosmic jurisprudence.
  • Prahlāda admonishes Andhaka using Asita’s dharma-teaching: parādāra-sevana leads to severe naraka consequences (including Raurava), while self-restraint and śāstra-alignment secure fearlessness and prosperity.
  • Andhaka rejects dharma-counsel, sends Śambara to challenge Śaṅkara at Mandara, and mobilizes a vast asura host—setting the stage for a Shaiva-centered confrontation framed within the Pulastya–Nārada narration.

Shlokas in Adhyaya 40

Verse 1

इति श्रीवामनपुराणे एकोनचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः अरजा उवाच नात्मानं तव दास्यामि बुहनोक्तेन किं तव रक्षन्ती भवतः शापादात्मानं च मही पते

Verse 16

श्पत्वेत्थं भगवान् शुक्रो दण्डमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम् जगाम शिष्यसहितः पातालं दानवालयम्

Assim, tendo amaldiçoado Daṇḍa, a alegria da linhagem de Ikṣvāku, o venerável Śukra partiu, acompanhado de seus discípulos, para Pātāla, a morada dos Dānavas.

Verse 17

दण्डो ऽपि भस्मसाद् भूतः सराष्ट्रबलवाहनः महता ग्राववरषेण सप्तरात्रान्तरे तदा

Then Daṇḍa too was reduced to ashes—along with his kingdom, his troops, and his mounts/vehicles—by a great shower of stones, within the span of seven nights.

Verse 23

किं ममासौ रणे योद्धुं शक्तस्त्रिमयनो ऽसुर एकाकी धर्मरहितो भस्मारुणितविग्रहः

“Como poderia aquele de três olhos ser capaz de lutar comigo em batalha, ó Asura?—sozinho, desprovido de dharma, com o corpo avermelhado/coberto de cinza.”

Verse 24

नान्धको बिभियादिन्द्रान्नामरेभ्यः कथञ्चन स कथं वृषपत्राक्षाद् बिभेति स्त्रीमुखेक्षकात्

“Andhaka does not fear Indra, nor the gods, in any way. How then could he fear Vṛṣapatrākṣa—one who merely looks upon women’s faces?”

Verse 41

पुलस्त्य उवाच इत्येवमुक्ते वचने प्रह्लादं प्राह चान्धकः भवान् धर्मपरस्त्वेको नाहं धर्म समाचरे

Pulastya disse: Tendo sido assim proferidas essas palavras, Andhaka disse a Prahlāda: “Só tu és devotado ao dharma; eu não pratico o dharma.”

Verse 43

भिक्षो किमर्थं शौलेन्द्रं स्वर्गोपम्यं सकन्दरम् परिभुञ्जसि केनाद्य तव दत्तो वदस्व माम

“Ó mendicante, por que motivo ocupas/desfrutas esta montanha senhorial, semelhante ao céu e cheia de cavernas? Por quem te foi concedida hoje? Dize-me.”

Verse ["Bhakti expressed through service", "Righteous warfare against adharma", "Śaiva martial theology"]

5

S’étant prosterné avec dévotion, il dit à Maheśvara : «Pourquoi demeures-tu immobile, ô Seigneur du monde ? Lève-toi, avide de batailleVamana Purana,40,45,VamP 40.45,yadīṣṭastava śailendraḥ kriyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama yeyaṃ hi bhavataḥ patnī sā me śīghraṃ pradīyatām,यदीष्टस्तव शैलेन्द्रः क्रियतां वचनं मम येयं हि भवतः पत्नी सा मे शीघ्रं प्रदीयताम्,Andhaka Vadha,Narrative (Asura-Devata Conflict),Adhyaya 40 (Andhaka episode; approach to Mandara and demand for the Goddess),40.45,yadīṣṭastava śailendraḥ kriyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama yeyaṃ hi bhavataḥ patnī sā me śīghraṃ pradīyatām,yad īṣṭas tava śailendraḥ kriyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama | yeyaṃ hi bhavataḥ patnī sā me śīghraṃ pradīyatām ||,“If this lord of mountains is dear to you

Verse ["apramāda", "giriputrī", "surakṣita geha", "rakṣaṇīyā", "Pārvatī protection", "Andhaka-vadha"]

यच्चाब्रवीद् दीयतां मे गिरिपुत्रीति दानवः तदेषा यातु स्वं कामं नाहं वारयितुं क्षमः

Andhaka Vadha

Verse 51

अहं पताका संग्रामे भवानीशश्च देविनौ प्रामद्यूतं परिस्तीर्य यो जेष्यति स लप्स्यते

«Nesta batalha eu serei o estandarte do prêmio; e as duas Deusas—Bhavānī e Īśā—serão a aposta. Tendo sido estendido o ‘prāmadyūta’, jogo de aposta ardente, quem vencer obterá (o prêmio)».

Verse 52

इत्येवमुक्तो मतिमान् शम्बरो ऽन्दकमागमत् समागम्याब्रवीद् वाक्यं शर्वगौर्योश्च भाषितम्

Assim instruído, o prudente Śambara foi até Andhaka. Tendo-se encontrado com ele, transmitiu a mensagem, repetindo as palavras ditas a respeito de Śarva (Śiva) e de Gaurī.

Verse 53

तच्छ्रत्वा दानवपतिः क्रोधदीप्तेक्षणः श्वसन् समाहूयाब्रवीद् वाक्यं दुर्योधनमिदं वचः

Ao ouvir isso, o senhor dos Dānavas, com os olhos ardendo de ira e respirando com força, mandou chamar (o seu homem) e proferiu estas duras palavras.

Verse 54

गच्छ शीघ्रं महाबाहो भेरीं सान्नाहिकीं दृढाम् ताडयस्व सुविश्रब्धं दुःशीलामिव योषितम्

“Vai depressa, ó de braços poderosos. Bate com firmeza o sólido tambor de guerra, o sānnāhikī, com plena confiança—(bate nele) como se bateria numa mulher de má conduta.”

Verse 55

समादिष्टो ऽन्धकेनाथ भेरीं दुर्योधनो बलात् ताडयामास वेगेन यथाप्राणेन भूयसा

“Assim instruído por Andhaka, Duryodhana então, por pura força, bateu o tambor com rapidez—pondo nele o máximo possível de alento vital (esforço), ainda mais.”

Verse 56

सा ताडिता बलवता भेरी दुर्योधनेन हि सत्वरं भैरवं रावं रुराव सुरभी यथा

Narrator (Purāṇic voice) describing events to the primary listener (traditional frame: a sage narrating to another sage/assembly).

Verse 58

याथातथ्यं च तान् सर्वानाह सेनापतिर्बली ते चापि बलिनां श्रेष्ठाः सन्नद्धा युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः

“E o comandante Bali dirigiu-se a todos eles com um relato das coisas conforme eram de fato; e aqueles, os mais eminentes entre os fortes, plenamente armados, ansiavam pela batalha.”

Verse 59

सहान्धका निर्ययुस्ते गजैरुष्ट्रैर्हयै रथैः अन्धको रथमास्थाय पञ्चनल्वप्रणमाणतः

Juntamente com Andhaka, eles partiram—em elefantes, camelos, cavalos e carros de guerra. Andhaka, subindo ao seu carro, avançou segundo a medida chamada «pañcanalva» (uma unidade/extensão específica).

Verse 60

त्र्यम्बकं स पराजेतुं कृतबुद्धिर्विनिर्ययौ जम्भः कुजम्भो हुण्डश्च तुहुण्डः शम्बरो बलिः

Tendo decidido derrotar Tryambaka (Śiva), ele partiu. (Com ele foram os daityas:) Jambha, Kujambha, Huṇḍa, Tuhuṇḍa, Śambara e Bali.

Verse 61

बाणाः कार्तस्वरो हस्ती सूर्यशत्रुर्महोदरः अयःशुङ्कुः शिबिः शाल्वो वृषपर्वा विरोचनः

അപ്പോൾ ആകാശവിസ്താരത്തിൽ ദേവന്മാർ—ഇന്ദ്രൻ, വിഷ്ണു, പിതാമഹൻ (ബ്രഹ്മാവ്) സഹിതം, സൂര്യനും അഗ്നിയും മുൻപിൽ നിൽക്കേ—കാണുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച് ഒന്നിച�Vamana Purana,40,62,VamP 40.62,hayagrīvaḥ kālanemiḥ saṃhlādaḥ kālanāśanaḥ śarabhaḥ śalabhaścaiva vipracittiśca vīryavān,हयग्रीवः कालनेमिः संह्लादः कालनाशनः शरभः शलभश्चैव विप्रचित्तिश्च वीर्यवान्,Andhaka Vadha,Mythic Battle Narrative (Daitya Enumeration),Adhyaya 40 (title not provided in input; context: Andhaka-vadha / conflict with Tryambaka),62,hayagrīvaḥ kālanemiḥ saṃhlādaḥ kālanāśanaḥ śarabhaḥ śalabhaścaiva vipracittiśca vīryavān,hayagrīvaḥ kālanemiḥ saṃhlādaḥ kāla-nāśanaḥ | śarabhaḥ śalabhaś caiva vipracittiś ca vīryavān ||,(And also:) Hayagrīva

Verse 62

हयग्रीवः कालनेमिः संह्लादः कालनाशनः शरभः शलभश्चैव विप्रचित्तिश्च वीर्यवान्

148

Verse 64

इत्थं दुरात्मा दनुसैन्यपालस्तदान्धको योद्धुमना हरेण महाचलं मन्दरमभ्युपेयिवान् स कालपाशावसितो हि मन्दधीः

Thus, that evil-souled Andhaka, commander of the Dānu host, intent on fighting with Hara, approached the great mountain Mandara—indeed, dull-witted, he was already ensnared by the noose of Time (Death).

Frequently Asked Questions

Within Pulastya’s narration to Nārada, the chapter advances a syncretic theology by treating dharma—not sectarian identity—as the governing principle: Śukra’s brahmanical tapas enforces cosmic justice, while Śaṅkara (Tryambaka) is presented as invincible even to sura–asura forces. Prahlāda’s counsel functions as an asura-dharma corrective, aligning political power with śāstra and restraint, thereby harmonizing divine authority across traditions.

This Adhyāya is not primarily a tīrtha-māhātmya unit; it contains minimal topographical sanctification. The explicit locations are Mandara Mountain (as Śiva’s residence with Bhavānī in this narrative context) and Pātāla (Śukra’s return-point). No Kurukṣetra/Sarasvatī-basin sites, rivers, sarovaras, or ritual prescriptions are specified in the received passage.

The core teaching is parādāra-varjana (renunciation of another’s spouse) as a universal dharma for all varṇas. It is illustrated by two linked consequences: Daṇḍa’s sexual transgression triggers Śukra’s curse and total political annihilation, while Andhaka’s refusal to heed Prahlāda’s dharma-counsel leads him to escalate toward conflict with Tryambaka, framed as self-destructive hubris.