Shloka 21

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

वरदाभयहस्तञ्च दृष्ट्वा स्कन्दं मुनीश्वरः । सम्पूज्य परया भक्त्या स्तोतुं समुपचक्रमे

Transliteration

varadābhayahastañca dṛṣṭvā skandaṃ munīśvaraḥ | sampūjya parayā bhaktyā stotuṃ samupacakrame

Translation

Seeing Skanda with hands that grant boons and bestow fearlessness, the foremost of sages worshipped him with supreme devotion and then began to sing hymns of praise.

Word by Word

• वरद-अभय-हस्तम्: having boon-giving and fear-dispelling hands
• वरद-अभय-हस्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद + अभय + हस्त (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative; ‘having hands (showing) boon-giving and fearlessness’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to स्कन्दम्)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), अर्थः—‘having seen’

• स्कन्दम्: Skanda
• स्कन्दम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मुनीश्वरः: the lord among sages
• मुनीश्वरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘lord of sages’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सम्पूज्य: having worshipped (fully)
• सम्पूज्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः—‘having duly worshipped’

• परया: with supreme
• परया: विशेषण (Adjectival to instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to भक्त्या)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्तु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive/तुमन्त), अव्ययभाव; प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• समुपचक्रमे: began; commenced
• समुपचक्रमे: क्रिया (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + √क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva principle that divine grace is approached through bhakti: the sage first performs respectful worship and then offers stotra, showing that humility and devotion invite the Lord’s protection (abhaya) and blessings (varada).

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

Though the scene praises Skanda, it reflects Saguna worship central to Shaiva practice—approaching the divine in a gracious form that grants refuge and boons. Such devotion complements Linga worship by cultivating surrender and praise as integral limbs of puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple Shaiva sequence is implied: begin with upacāra-pūjā (reverent offerings) and then stotra-japa (hymn recitation). In practice, this can be paired with Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while maintaining the inner mood of seeking abhaya (fearlessness) in Shiva’s protection.