Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 116

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

Devanagari script

अपश्यंस्तीर्थसलिले स्नायमानान् नरोत्तमान् ततश्चित्राङ्गदा दृष्ट्वा जटामण्डलधारिणम्/ सुरथं हसती प्राह संरोहत्पुलका सखीम्

Transliteration

apaśyaṃstīrthasalile snāyamānān narottamān tataścitrāṅgadā dṛṣṭvā jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇam/ surathaṃ hasatī prāha saṃrohatpulakā sakhīm

Translation

Họ thấy những bậc nam tử ưu tú đang tắm trong dòng nước của thánh độ (tīrtha). Rồi Citrāṅgadā, khi trông thấy Suratha—người mang búi tóc bện (jaṭā) kết thành vòng—mỉm cười nói với bạn mình, toàn thân rùng mình nổi da gà vì xúc động.

Speakers

• Narration; direct speech is introduced: Citrāṅgadā speaks to her friend (sakhī) upon seeing Suratha

Primary Deities

• Śiva (implied by jaṭā-ascetic culture and the nearby Hāṭakeśvara tīrtha)

Key Themes

• Tīrtha-snāna (ritual bathing)
• Recognition scene (pratyabhijñā)
• Ascetic markers and sacred space
• Emotional bhāva (pulaka) as a sign of intense recollection

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does the text emphasize ‘tīrtha-salila’ and bathing?

In Purāṇic geography, the defining act of a tīrtha is snāna. Mentioning ‘tīrtha-salila’ signals that the scene is anchored in a sanctified hydroscape where merit (puṇya) is accessed through contact with the water.

What does ‘jaṭā-maṇḍala-dhārin’ convey about Suratha?

It marks Suratha as adopting ascetic appearance—matted locks arranged like a ‘maṇḍala’ (a circular crown/halo). This can indicate a vow (vrata), penance (tapas), or affiliation with Śaiva/ṛṣi culture typical of tīrtha environments.

What is the narrative function of Citrāṅgadā’s gooseflesh (pulaka)?

Pulaka is a conventional sign of sudden emotional surge—recognition, love, awe, or devotional intensity. Here it foreshadows that Suratha is not a random ascetic but someone tied to her prior life-story or relationship, prompting the next explanatory speech.