Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

परिपृच्छसि शोकार्तं परिखिन्नं तपोन्वितम् स प्राह राजास्मि विभो तपस्विन् शाकले पुरे

Transliteration

paripṛcchasi śokārtaṃ parikhinnaṃ taponvitam sa prāha rājāsmi vibho tapasvin śākale pure

Translation

«Ты расспрашиваешь того, кто терзаем скорбью, изнурён, но всё же наделён силой тапасьи». Он сказал: «О почтенный подвижник, я — царь в городе Шакала».

Speakers

• The tapasvin speaks about his sorrowful state; King Indradyumna replies
• identifying himself to the ascetic.

Key Themes

• Grief as a catalyst for spiritual inquiry
• Identity and legitimacy in sacred dialogue
• Interplay of kingship and ascetic authority

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is Śākala, and why is it important geographically?

Śākala is a well-known ancient city associated with the northwestern cultural sphere (often linked with the Madra region in broader Sanskrit literature). Its mention situates the narrative’s human actors within a recognizable political-geographic map.

How can someone be both “śokārta” (grief-stricken) and “taponvita” (austerity-endowed)?

Purāṇic psychology allows grief to coexist with discipline: sorrow may drive one toward vows, pilgrimage, or tapas, transforming personal suffering into a spiritual pursuit.

Does “vibho” here indicate a deity?

Not necessarily. In many passages it functions as an honorific (“O venerable/mighty one”) addressed to a respected person such as an ascetic; deity-reference depends on surrounding verses and narrative frame.