Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

ततः स्नाताश्च कार्तिक्यामृषयः पुष्करेष्वथ राजानश्च महाभागा नाभागेक्ष्वाकुसंयुताः

Transliteration

tataḥ snātāśca kārtikyāmṛṣayaḥ puṣkareṣvatha rājānaśca mahābhāgā nābhāgekṣvākusaṃyutāḥ

Translation

తర్వాత కార్తిక మాసంలో ఋషులు పుష్కరాలలో స్నానం చేశారు. మహాభాగ్యశాలులైన రాజులు కూడా—నాభాగ, ఇక్ష్వాకులతో కలిసి—అక్కడ స్నానక్రియను నిర్వహించారు.

Speakers

• Narrator describing the ritual climax of the pilgrimage: Kārtika bathing at Puṣkara.

Key Themes

• Kārtika-snāna (meritorious bathing in Kārtika)
• Tīrtha-mahimā through calendrical sanctity
• Participation of sages and solar-dynasty royalty
• Ritual purity and seasonal vrata

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the significance of bathing in Kārtika at Puṣkara?

Kārtika is a premier sacred month in Purāṇic vrata culture; snāna (ritual bathing) during Kārtika at a major tīrtha is repeatedly presented as highly merit-yielding. The verse ties Puṣkara’s sanctity to both place (tīrtha) and time (Kārtika).

Why does the text say “Puṣkareṣu” (plural) rather than “Puṣkare” (singular)?

The plural can indicate multiple sacred bathing spots within the Puṣkara complex (e.g., different kuṇḍas/lakes/ghāṭas) or a conventional plural for a renowned tīrtha with several associated waters. It emphasizes Puṣkara as a networked sacred hydrography rather than a single pond.

Who are Nābhāga and Ikṣvāku in this context?

They are royal figures associated with celebrated lineages (especially Ikṣvāku as the eponymous ancestor of the solar dynasty). Their mention underscores that Puṣkara’s rites are not limited to ascetics; exemplary kings also undertake tīrtha observances, integrating rājadharma with pilgrimage practice.