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

สตรีทั้งสองยังคงอยู่ที่นั่น เฝ้ามองและรอคอยกาลวะ ณ ท่าน้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์อันสงัด และกาลวะเองก็ยังคงอยู่ที่นั่นภายในสายน้ำ

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.