Shloka 17

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

तत्र स्कन्दसरो नाम सरस्सागरसन्निभम् । शिशिरस्वादुपानीयं स्वच्छागाधबहूदकम्

Transliteration

tatra skandasaro nāma sarassāgarasannibham | śiśirasvādupānīyaṃ svacchāgādhabahūdakam

Translation

Dort gibt es einen See namens Skanda-saras, weit wie der Ozean. Sein Wasser ist kühl und süß, zum Trinken geeignet—klar, tief und reichlich.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa-dyotaka (अधिकरण-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (देशवाचक)

• skanda-saraḥ: Skanda lake
• skanda-saraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक) + saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st), Singular; 'Skanda-lake'

• nāma: named
• nāma: Saṃjñā-dyotaka (संज्ञा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage of nāma (नाम) meaning 'by name/called'

• saras: lake
• saras: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; apposition to skanda-saraḥ

• sāgara-sannibham: ocean-like
• sāgara-sannibham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective qualifying saras: 'resembling the ocean'

• śiśira-svādu-pānīyam: cool, sweet water
• śiśira-svādu-pānīyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiśira (प्रातिपदिक) + svādu (प्रातिपदिक) + pānīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'cool and sweet (drinking) water' qualifying saras (water of the lake)

• svaccha-agādha-bahu-udakam: clear, deep, abundant in water
• svaccha-agādha-bahu-udakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svaccha (प्रातिपदिक) + agādha (प्रातिपदिक) + bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'clear, deep, having much water'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A tīrtha named Skanda-saras is praised as ocean-like and purifying; such descriptions typically function as māhātmya, marking a grace-bestowing landscape near the Lord’s sphere.

Significance: Snāna in the tīrtha is implied to purify mala and prepare the paśu for worship/vision (darśana) of the divine.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse glorifies a sacred tīrtha in Kailāsa, presenting purity (svacchatā) and depth (agādhatā) as outward signs of inner sattva—supporting the Shaiva Siddhānta ideal of purification that prepares the soul (paśu) to approach Pati (Śiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By praising Skanda-saras in Kailāsa—Śiva’s divine realm—the text situates pilgrimage and sacred waters as supportive aids to Saguna devotion, helping devotees cultivate cleanliness, steadiness, and reverence before performing Shiva-pūjā and Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snāna (ritual bathing) and ācamana (sipping purified water) with remembrance of Śiva; one may then continue japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) in a calm, purified state.