Vamana Purana — Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva, Shloka 25

The Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva: Himavan Grants the Marriage

Devanagari script

ततो देवाः समाजग्मुर्ददृशुपः शैलनन्दिनीम् तेजसा विजितास्तस्या न शेकुरुपसर्पितुम्

Transliteration

tato devāḥ samājagmurdadṛśupaḥ śailanandinīm tejasā vijitāstasyā na śekurupasarpitum

Translation

Then the gods came together and beheld Śailanandinī (the mountain’s daughter). Conquered by her radiance, they were not able to approach her.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• samājagmuḥ: came together/arrived
• samājagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• dadṛśuḥ: saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• śaila-nandinīm: Śailanandinī (mountain’s daughter)
• śaila-nandinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक) + nandinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘śailasya nandinī’ (daughter/delight of the mountain)

• tejasā: by (her) radiance
• tejasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• vijitāḥ: overpowered/defeated
• vijitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ji (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with devāḥ

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• śekuḥ: were able
• śekuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• upasarpitum: to approach
• upasarpitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sṛp (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to approach/creep near’

Speakers

• Narrative voice (events describing the Devas)

Primary Deities

• Devāḥ
• Śailanandinī (Devī/Kālī/Pārvatī)

Key Themes

• Devī supremacy (tejas)
• Tapas-generated power
• Deva humility
• Approach to the divine requires fitness/adhikāra

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine radiance is not merely physical brilliance but spiritual potency; proximity to the sacred requires inner preparedness, not status—even devas can be ‘checked’ by higher śakti.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Episode-level narrative (Vamśānucarita/ākhyāna mode): the text advances a theologically charged story about divine hierarchy and power, rather than enumerative cosmology.

What is the symbolic significance?

The devas’ inability to approach indicates the transcendence of Devī’s tapas: śakti is the enabling principle behind cosmic order, and even celestial authorities must submit to it.