Vamana Purana — Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva, Shloka 40

The Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva: Himavan Grants the Marriage

Devanagari script

तात यास्ये महारण्ये तप्तुं घोरं महत्तपः आराधनाय देवस्य शङ्करस्य पिनाकिनः

Transliteration

tāta yāsye mahāraṇye taptuṃ ghoraṃ mahattapaḥ ārādhanāya devasya śaṅkarasya pinākinaḥ

Translation

„Vater, ich werde in den großen Wald gehen, um eine furchtbare, gewaltige Askese zu üben, zur Verehrung des Gottes Śaṅkara, des Trägers des Pināka-Bogens.“

Word by Word

• तात: O father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• यास्ये: I shall go
• यास्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महारण्ये: in the great forest
• महारण्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great + forest)

• तप्तुम्: to perform austerity
• तप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive) ‘to perform austerity/to heat oneself’

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तपः’)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तपः’)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आराधनाय: for worship
• आराधनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-राधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the purpose of worship)

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शङ्करस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शङ्करस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; शिवनाम

• पिनाकिनः: of the bearer of the Pināka (Śiva)
• पिनाकिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘पिनाक-धारी’ (bow-bearer)

Speakers

• Primary narrative frame likely Pulastya → Nārada; within the episode: Pārvatī → Himavat

Primary Deities

• Shiva
• Parvati

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Tapas
• Bhakti
• Vrata/Rituals (austerity as worship)
• Divine epithets

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

A clear intention (ārādhana) paired with disciplined effort (tapas) is presented as a legitimate path to divine grace. The verse valorizes steadfastness and self-restraint as expressions of devotion.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Falls under Vamśānucarita / Carita (exemplary narrative). Though tapas has ritual overtones, the passage is primarily story-driven rather than a calendrical vrata-prescription.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘forest’ signifies withdrawal from social identity into liminal space where transformation occurs. ‘Pinākin’ emphasizes Śiva’s protective/sovereign power—Pārvatī seeks not merely a spouse but alignment with the cosmic ascetic-lord.