Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 59

The Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu (Vishnu-Pañjara) and the Redemption of a Rakshasa

Devanagari script

यथा गुरुं न मनसा कर्मणा वचसापि वा अवजानाम्यहं तेन पातु सत्येन पावकः

Transliteration

yathā guruṃ na manasā karmaṇā vacasāpi vā avajānāmyahaṃ tena pātu satyena pāvakaḥ

Translation

কাৰণ মই মন, কৰ্ম বা বাক্য—কোনো ৰূপে গুৰুক অবজ্ঞা নকৰোঁ; সেই সত্যৰ বলত পাৱক অগ্নিয়ে মোক ৰক্ষা কৰক।

Speakers

• Devotee/supplicant voice; addressed to Agni (Pāvaka).

Primary Deities

• Agni

Key Themes

• Tri-karaṇa-śuddhi (purity of thought, word, deed)
• Satya (truth) as spiritual power
• Non-disrespect of the guru (anavajñā)
• Protective efficacy of dharma

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the significance of listing mind, speech, and action?

It encodes the classical dharmic ideal of integrity: wrongdoing is not only physical but also mental and verbal. The verse asserts complete restraint and reverence toward the guru across all three channels (tri-karaṇa).

How does ‘satyena’ function here—what is ‘the power of truth’?

‘Satyena’ indicates satya as an effective spiritual force (satya-bala). The speaker presents a truth-claim—“I do not disrespect my guru”—and asks Agni to protect them on the strength of that truth, akin to a satya-kriyā (truth-act) motif found across Sanskrit literature.

Why is Agni the deity connected to satya in this prayer?

Agni is a paradigmatic witness (sākṣin) in ritual and moral life, associated with purification and the upholding of order. Invoking Agni ‘by truth’ aligns the ethical claim (satya) with the cosmic-ritual principle that verifies and purifies it.