Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 102

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

Devanagari script

तत्स्वदत्तो महाघोरो मम शापो निवर्त्यताम् चित्राङ्गदायाः पितरं मां त्वष्टारं तपोधन

Transliteration

tatsvadatto mahāghoro mama śāpo nivartyatām citrāṅgadāyāḥ pitaraṃ māṃ tvaṣṭāraṃ tapodhana

Translation

“అయితే మీరు ప్రసాదించిన ఆ వరం వల్ల నా అత్యంత ఘోరమైన శాపం నివృత్తి కావాలి. హే తపోధన! నన్ను త్వష్టృగా తెలుసుకోండి— నేను చిత్రాంగదా తండ్రిని.”

Speakers

• Viśvakarmā identifying himself as Tvaṣṭṛ
• addressing a tapasvin (tapo-dhana) who can effect śāpa-nivṛtti

Primary Deities

• Viśvakarmā (Tvaṣṭṛ)

Key Themes

• Identity revelation (devatā-paricaya)
• Curse reversal through boon/ascetic power
• Genealogical anchoring via named descendant (Citrāṅgadā)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does ‘nivartyatām’ imply—atonement, time-bound expiry, or immediate removal?

‘Nivartyatām’ literally asks for reversal/cessation. In Purāṇic curse-logic, this can mean immediate lifting if the competent authority grants it, or removal upon satisfying a stipulated condition; the surrounding verses (e.g., 39.104) suggest a defined ‘end of the curse’ (śāpasyāntaḥ).

Why does the speaker stress ‘I am Tvaṣṭṛ, father of Citrāṅgadā’?

Purāṇas often authenticate a character by lineage and relational identifiers. Naming Citrāṅgadā situates the episode within a known genealogical or local tradition, helping listeners connect the curse-story to a broader narrative network.

Who is ‘tapo-dhana’ in practical terms?

It is an honorific for a sage whose spiritual capital (tapas) is treated as a ‘treasure’ capable of altering destinies—especially in matters of śāpa, vara, and purification.