Vamana Purana — Ritadhvaja Aids Galava, Shloka 24
Ritadhvaja’s Aid to Galava and Andhaka’s Infatuation with Gauri
इत्थं वदति दैत्येन्द्रे प्रह्लादो बुद्धिसागरः पिधाय कर्णो हस्ताभ्यां शिरःकम्पं वचो ऽब्रवीत्
itthaṃ vadati daityendre prahlādo buddhisāgaraḥ pidhāya karṇo hastābhyāṃ śiraḥkampaṃ vaco 'bravīt
इत्थं वदति दैत्येन्द्रे, बुद्धिसागरः प्रह्लादः उभाभ्यां हस्ताभ्यां कर्णौ पिधाय, शिरः कम्पमानः, इदं वचनम् अब्रवीत्।
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FAQs
Covering the ears is a conventional sign of refusing to hear adharmic, obscene, or spiritually harmful speech. It marks moral protest and inner purity, especially fitting for Prahlāda, who is repeatedly portrayed as steadfast in discernment and devotion.
It can convey agitation from shock or grief, but in counsel-scenes it often signals strong disapproval and urgency. Combined with ear-covering, it suggests Prahlāda finds the preceding words ethically or spiritually troubling.
Not directly: no rivers, tīrthas, or regions are named here. However, such narrative interludes often frame later tīrtha-mahātmyas by establishing dharmic norms (what speech and desire should be restrained), which then connect to pilgrimage merit and conduct in other chapters.