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The Manifestation of Māyā as Durgā/Kātyāyanī and the Slaying of Vaitrāsura
महातपा उवाच । आसीद् राजा पुरा राजन् सिन्धुद्वीपः प्रतापवान् । वरुणांशो महाराज सोऽरण्ये तपसि स्थितः ॥ २८.२ ॥
mahātapā uvāca | āsīd rājā purā rājan sindhudvīpaḥ pratāpavān | varuṇāṃśo mahārāja so 'raṇye tapasi sthitaḥ || 28.2 ||
มหาตปากล่าวว่า “กาลก่อน ข้าแต่มหาราช มีพระราชาผู้ทรงเดชชื่อสินธุทวีป เลื่องลือด้วยความกล้าหาญ พระองค์เป็นส่วนแห่งพระวรุณ และประทับอยู่ในป่า ตั้งมั่นในตบะ”
Mahātapā
It exemplifies a common Purāṇic narrative device: introducing a royal figure with divine lineage and ascetic credentials, which frames subsequent teachings or events within an idealized model of kingship and discipline.
The verse names an 'araṇya' (forest) as the setting but does not specify a particular toponym; 'Sindhudvīpa' is a personal name and may also evoke associations with the Sindhu region in broader Sanskrit literature, though this verse alone does not allow a firm modern identification.
The verse foregrounds the ideal of disciplined conduct: even a powerful king is portrayed as 'established in tapas,' emphasizing self-restraint and moral cultivation as a foundation for authority.
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