Vamana Purana — Ritadhvaja Aids Galava, Shloka 4
Ritadhvaja’s Aid to Galava and Andhaka’s Infatuation with Gauri
नारद उवाच/ किमर्थं गालवस्यासौ साधयामास सत्तमः येनासौ पत्रिणा दैत्यं निजघान नृपात्मजः
nārada uvāca/ kimarthaṃ gālavasyāsau sādhayāmāsa sattamaḥ yenāsau patriṇā daityaṃ nijaghāna nṛpātmajaḥ
那罗陀说道：“那位至善之人究竟为伽罗婆（Gālava）的何种目的而承担此事——以致王子以箭矢诛杀那位代底耶？”
{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
It marks a transition from a brief heroic summary to the underlying cause (nidāna). Purāṇas often use a sage’s inquiry to justify expanding the story and to connect royal action to ascetic or dhārmic aims.
The phrase is intentionally broad: it can cover a ritual commission, protection of tapas, retrieval of something needed for a rite, or repayment of a debt to a sage. The next verse begins to specify it by describing Gālava’s tapas and its obstruction.
Within this micro-narrative, the daitya is Pātālaketu (named in the preceding verse). The label ‘daitya’ situates him in the asuric class opposed to ascetic order and dharma.