Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

ते स्थिते चापि वीक्षन्त्यौ प्रतीक्षन्त्यौ च गालवम् संस्थिते निर्जने तीर्थे गालवो ऽन्तर्जले तथा

Transliteration

te sthite cāpi vīkṣantyau pratīkṣantyau ca gālavam saṃsthite nirjane tīrthe gālavo 'ntarjale tathā

Translation

அந்த இருவரும் அங்கேயே இருந்து காளவனை நோக்கியும் அவனை எதிர்நோக்கியும் இருந்தனர்—அந்த தனிமையான தீர்த்தத்தில்; காளவனும் அங்கே நீருக்குள் தங்கியிருந்தான்.

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic voice) describing the scene to the listening sage/audience (chapter-level frame not explicit in the given excerpt).

Primary Deities

• Brahmā (implied by Puṣkara context)
• Viṣṇu (implied by Purāṇic tīrtha framework)
• Śiva (often co-present in māhātmya settings; not explicit here)

Key Themes

• Tīrtha-seclusion and ritual purity
• Waiting/auspicious encounter at a sacred site
• Ascetic presence (Gālava) in water

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who are the ‘two’ that are watching and waiting in this verse?

The dual feminine participles vīkṣantyau/pratīkṣantyau indicate two female figures present on the bank(s), awaiting Gālava. Their identities are clarified by the subsequent verses, which introduce Vedavatī and mention a triad of maidens.

Why is Gālava described as ‘antarjale’ (within the water) at a tīrtha?

In tīrtha narratives, remaining in water can signal austerity (tapas), vow-observance, or ritual preparation. The verse frames Gālava as already positioned in a liminal, purified space—water at a sacred ford—before the encounter unfolds.

What does ‘nirjana tīrtha’ contribute to the meaning?

‘Nirjana’ emphasizes remoteness and quiet, a common marker of heightened sanctity in Purāṇic geography: secluded places are portrayed as especially fit for tapas, epiphany, and transformative meetings.