Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Counsel to Andhaka, Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

इत्थं दुरात्मा दनुसैन्यपालस्तदान्धको योद्धुमना हरेण महाचलं मन्दरमभ्युपेयिवान् स कालपाशावसितो हि मन्दधीः

Transliteration

itthaṃ durātmā danusainyapālastadāndhako yoddhumanā hareṇa mahācalaṃ mandaramabhyupeyivān sa kālapāśāvasito hi mandadhīḥ

Translation

இவ்வாறு தானு சேனையின் தலைவனான தீய உள்ளம் கொண்ட அந்தகன், ஹரனுடன் போரிட எண்ணி, மகத்தான மந்தர மலைக்குச் சென்றான்; ஆனால் மந்தபுத்தியுடைய அவன் காலத்தின் பாசத்தில் ஏற்கெனவே சிக்கியிருந்தான்।

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Hara)
• Andhaka

Key Themes

• Approach to the battle-ground
• Kāla (Time/Death) as inescapable destiny
• Moral framing of the antagonist (durātmā, manda-dhī)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the significance of Mandara here?

Mandara is a mythic 'great mountain' frequently appearing in Purāṇic cosmography and narratives (notably as the churning mountain). Here it functions as a named, elevated battle-setting/landmark anchoring the episode geographically.

What does 'kālapāśāvasita' imply about Andhaka’s fate?

It signals inevitability: Andhaka’s march is portrayed as already determined by Kāla (Time/Death). The phrase frames the coming defeat as cosmically ordained rather than merely tactical.

Is 'Hara' a reference to Viṣṇu or Śiva?

In standard Purāṇic usage, 'Hara' is a principal epithet of Śiva. The verse explicitly sets Andhaka’s intent as fighting 'with Hara,' aligning the episode with the Śaiva Andhaka-vadha cycle.