Vamana Purana — Harihara Non-Duality, Shloka 24

Harihara Non-Duality and the Revelation of Sadasiva to the Ganas

Devanagari script

तदेतेषां महादेव स्फुटं त्रैलोक्यविन्दकम् रूपं ज्ञानं विवेकं च वदस्व स्वेच्छया विभो

Transliteration

tadeteṣāṃ mahādeva sphuṭaṃ trailokyavindakam rūpaṃ jñānaṃ vivekaṃ ca vadasva svecchayā vibho

Translation

„Darum, o Mahādeva, lege ihnen klar die Gestalt, das Wissen und die Unterscheidungskraft (viveka) dar, die ‚die drei Welten erfreut‘; o Allmächtiger, nach deinem Willen.“

Speakers

• (A Gaṇa or their leader) petitioning Śiva for instruction on the qualities behind his act of grace.

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Mahādeva)

Key Themes

• Upadeśa (instruction)
• Jñāna and Viveka as salvific virtues
• Divine form (rūpa) as meaningful manifestation
• Śiva as cosmic teacher honored by the three worlds

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is meant by “rūpa, jñāna, viveka” as a triad?

The triad links (1) rūpa—Śiva’s manifest mode or recognizable presence, (2) jñāna—spiritual knowledge that illuminates reality, and (3) viveka—discriminative wisdom that guides right judgment and conduct. Together they describe both divine revelation and the devotee’s ideal attainment.

How should “trailokyavindakam” be understood?

The compound is interpretively flexible. In context it functions as a laudatory qualifier: the form/knowledge/discernment that ‘wins over’ or ‘delights’ the three worlds—i.e., universally acknowledged as auspicious and authoritative.

Why do the Gaṇas ask for an explanation rather than simply praising?

Purāṇic dialogues often pivot from wonder (vismaya) to instruction (upadeśa). The Gaṇas’ request frames Śiva not only as an object of devotion but as a guru who articulates the principles behind divine action and devotional privilege.