Vamana Purana — Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Shloka 35

Harihara Revelation and the Tirtha-Glorification of Saptasarasvata in Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

ततस्तां मधुरां वाणीं शुश्राव वृषभध्वजः श्रुत्वोत्तस्थौ च वैगेन सर्वव्यापी निरञ्जनः

Transliteration

tatastāṃ madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ śuśrāva vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ śrutvottasthau ca vaigena sarvavyāpī nirañjanaḥ

Translation

Then the Bull-bannered Lord (Śiva) heard that sweet voice; and upon hearing it, the all-pervading, stainless One rose up swiftly.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अनन्तरबोधक)

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Singular

• madhurām: sweet
• madhurām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Singular; qualifying vāṇīm

• vāṇīm: speech/voice
• vāṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Singular

• śuśrāva: heard
• śuśrāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person Singular

• vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ: Śiva (bull-bannered)
• vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; bahuvrīhi ‘he whose banner has a bull’ (Śiva)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having heard’

• uttasthau: rose up
• uttasthau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + sthā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vaigena: with speed
• vaigena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular; adverbial-instrumental ‘with speed’

• sarvavyāpī: all-pervading
• sarvavyāpī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + vyāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘all-pervading’ qualifying vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

• nirañjanaḥ: stainless, pure
• nirañjanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + añjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘stainless/untainted’ qualifying vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

Speakers

• Narrator voice (Purāṇic narrator) describing Śiva’s response; immediate context implies the Devas’ approach and appeal.

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Divine responsiveness to supplication
• Śiva’s transcendence (sarvavyāpī, nirañjana)
• Crisis in the worlds prompting divine action

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is “Vṛṣabhadhvaja” and why is this epithet used here?

“Vṛṣabhadhvaja” is Śiva, identified by the bull (Nandin) on his banner. The epithet signals Śaiva iconography and frames the scene as the Devas seeking Śiva’s intervention.

What is conveyed by calling Śiva “sarvavyāpī nirañjana”?

The verse emphasizes Śiva’s metaphysical status: all-pervading (not limited by place) and stainless (unaffected by guṇas/impurities). This heightens the contrast between cosmic disturbance and the Lord’s untainted sovereignty.

Why does Śiva ‘rise up swiftly’ upon hearing the voice?

In Purāṇic narrative style, the deity’s immediate rising indicates readiness to receive petitioners and to act for cosmic restoration (loka-saṃgraha), anticipating the Devas’ request in the next verses.