Vamana Purana — Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Shloka 36

Harihara Revelation and the Tirtha-Glorification of Saptasarasvata in Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

नमो ऽस्तु स्र्वदेभ्यः प्रोवाच प्रहसन् हरः स चागतः सुरैः सेन्द्रः प्रणतो विनयान्वितैः

Transliteration

namo 'stu srvadebhyaḥ provāca prahasan haraḥ sa cāgataḥ suraiḥ sendraḥ praṇato vinayānvitaiḥ

Translation

Smiling, Hara said, “Homage be (to you) all, O gods.” And Indra, together with the gods, approached—bowed down and endowed with humility.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation; homage
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (interjection of salutation)

• astu: let it be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• sarva-debhyaḥ: to all the gods
• sarva-debhyaḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + deva (देव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), पञ्चमी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन-रूप (here: चतुर्थी बहुवचन, dative plural)

• pro-vāca: said; spoke forth
• pro-vāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग: प्र (pra-); लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• prahasan: smiling; laughing
• prahasan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-has (प्रहस् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि (agentive)

• haraḥ: Hara (Śiva)
• haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (हर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• āgataḥ: came; arrived
• āgataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (आगम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे ‘आगतः’ = ‘came’

• suraiḥ: with the gods
• suraiḥ: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (सुर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• sa-indraḥ: together with Indra
• sa-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (सह/स- उपपद) + indra (इन्द्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स-’ = ‘सहित’ (with)

• praṇataḥ: bowed; prostrated
• praṇataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-nam (प्रणम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘bowed down’

• vinaya-anvitaiḥ: endowed with humility
• vinaya-anvitaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya (विनय प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (अन्वित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘suraiḥ’)

Speakers

• Śiva (Hara) addresses the assembled Devas; narrative voice reports Indra and the Devas arriving and bowing.

Primary Deities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Divine hospitality and reception
• Deva humility before Śiva
• Śaiva supremacy/centrality in crisis episodes
• Ritual etiquette (praṇāma, vinaya)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Śiva offer ‘namo ’stu’ to the Devas—aren’t they subordinate?

Purāṇic scenes often depict mutual honor among divine beings. Śiva’s salutation functions as gracious reception and establishes a courteous, dharmic tone before hearing their petition.

What does “sendraḥ” imply about the delegation?

“Sendraḥ” indicates Indra is present as leader of the Devas, marking the request as an official cosmic appeal rather than a private visit.

What is the narrative function of “prahāsa” (smiling)?

Śiva’s smile signals composure and benevolence even amid cosmic turmoil, reassuring the Devas that their plea will be heard and that restoration is possible.