Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

शनैरुन्मोचयामास क्षणादुन्मोचिताश्च ताः ततः प्रीतो मुनिश्रेष्ठो वरदोभूदृतध्जः

Transliteration

śanairunmocayāmāsa kṣaṇādunmocitāśca tāḥ tataḥ prīto muniśreṣṭho varadobhūdṛtadhjaḥ

Translation

स शनैरुन्मोचयामास; क्षणादेव च ताः उन्मोचिताः। ततः प्रीतो मुनिश्रेष्ठः वरदोऽभूद् ऋतध्वजः।

Speakers

• Narrator voice; reports the sage’s satisfaction and boon-granting.

Key Themes

• Miracle (kṣaṇāt) following effort (śanaiḥ)
• Rishi’s grace and boon-bestowal
• Merit of assisting ascetics
• Transformation into varada (boon-giver)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the verse mention both ‘gradually’ (śanaiḥ) and ‘instantly’ (kṣaṇāt)?

This juxtaposition is a common Purāṇic stylistic device: it acknowledges the visible process (service performed with effort) while attributing the decisive success to a sudden, grace-like breakthrough—often implying divine sanction or the ripening of merit.

Who is Ṛtadhvaja in this passage?

Ṛtadhvaja is presented as a muni (sage) whose satisfaction empowers him to grant a boon. The name suggests alignment with ṛta (cosmic order/truth), fitting a figure whose blessing restores order and rewards dharmic service.

What is the narrative function of making the sage ‘varada’ (boon-giver)?

It transitions the episode from a feat (loosening the jaṭā) to its karmic payoff: the boon. In tīrtha-mahātmya contexts, such boons often anchor later etiologies—explaining a place’s sanctity, a vow’s fruit, or a lineage’s fortune.