Vamana Purana — Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Shloka 26

Harihara Revelation and the Tirtha-Glorification of Saptasarasvata in Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

प्रधूप्यागुरुणा भक्त्या निवेद्य परमैषधीः जप्त्वाष्टशतनामानं प्रणामं चक्रिरे ततः

Transliteration

pradhūpyāguruṇā bhaktyā nivedya paramaiṣadhīḥ japtvāṣṭaśatanāmānaṃ praṇāmaṃ cakrire tataḥ

Translation

Then, with devotion, they fumigated (the place of worship) with agaru-incense, offered the finest medicinal herbs, recited the litany of the eight-hundred names, and thereafter performed prostration.

Word by Word

• प्रधूप्य: having fumigated
• प्रधूप्य: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-धूप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: धूप् (to fumigate) उपसर्ग: प्र-

• अगुरुणा: with agaru (aloeswood)
• अगुरुणा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: हेतु/भाव (Manner/भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• निवेद्य: having offered/presented
• निवेद्य: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: विद् (to know) with causative sense in usage ‘to offer/present’ via निवेदयति; उपसर्ग: नि-

• परम-औषधीः: the supreme herbs/medicinal plants
• परम-औषधीः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + औषधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘परमाः औषध्यः’

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: जप् (to mutter/recite)

• अष्ट-शत-नामानम्: the (set of) eight-hundred names
• अष्ट-शत-नामानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/संख्यापूर्वक समासः ‘अष्टशतं नामानि यस्य’ → ‘अष्टशतनाम’ (eight-hundred names)

• प्रणामम्: prostration/salutation
• प्रणामम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• चक्रिरे: they performed/did
• चक्रिरे: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/Parokṣa), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; धातु: कृ (to do/make)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: अधिकरण (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-प्रकार: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speakers

• Narrator voice (Purāṇic narration) describing the Devas’ ritual actions toward Harīśvara (Hari + Īśvara).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

Key Themes

• Ritual worship (pūjā) with incense and herbal offerings
• Nāma-japa (recitation of divine names)
• Shaiva–Vaishnava unity (Harīśvara)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is implied by ‘aṣṭaśata-nāmānaṃ’ (eight-hundred names) in this context?

It indicates a formal nāma-recitation tradition (nāma-stotra/nāma-japa) used as worship. Here it functions as a liturgical act directed to Harīśvara, emphasizing that the divine can be praised through an extensive catalogue of epithets.

Why are ‘paramaiṣadhīḥ’ (excellent herbs) offered in a stuti context?

In Purāṇic ritual idiom, fragrant and medicinal plants serve as auspicious, purifying offerings (upacāras). Their mention signals a complete pūjā sequence—incense, offerings, recitation, and prostration—rather than mere verbal praise.

Does this verse identify a specific tīrtha or pilgrimage site?

No. The verse is purely ritual-descriptive; any geographical anchoring must come from surrounding verses in Adhyāya 36.