Shloka 42

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

श्रोतव्यमस्ति चेद्ब्रह्मन्वक्तुमर्हसि साम्प्रतम् । तदिदानीमहं वक्ष्ये लोकानुग्रहहे तवे

Transliteration

śrotavyamasti cedbrahmanvaktumarhasi sāmpratam | tadidānīmahaṃ vakṣye lokānugrahahe tave

Translation

O Brahman, revered sage, if you deem this worthy to be heard and fit to be spoken of now, then I shall speak this very moment—for the welfare and upliftment of the worlds, and for your benefit as well.

Word by Word

• श्रोतव्यम्: (something) to be heard
• श्रोतव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘to be heard’

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional ‘if’)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin/O sage
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• वक्तुम्: to speak
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive); ‘to speak’

• अर्हसि: you are fit/you should
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साम्प्रतम्: now/at present
• साम्प्रतम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अनुक्तवस्तुनिर्देश

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (now)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वक्ष्ये: I will speak
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• लोकानुग्रहहेतोः: for the sake of the world’s welfare
• लोकानुग्रहहेतोः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + अनुग्रह + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘for the sake of benefiting the world’ (हेतोः = for the sake of)

• तव: of you/for you
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

An unnamed narrator/sage addressing Brahma (inferred from the vocative 'brahman' and Kailasha Samhita discourse style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames sacred teaching as an act of loka-anugraha—compassionate guidance given for the upliftment of all beings—echoing the Shaiva view that true knowledge is shared to loosen pāśa (bondage) and turn the pashu (bound soul) toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By emphasizing ‘worthy speech’ and ‘worthy hearing,’ it supports the core Shaiva practice of śravaṇa and kathā around Shiva’s saguna manifestations—especially Linga worship—where hearing the purāṇic teaching becomes a devotional gateway to realizing Shiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and pravacana (right teaching) of Shiva-kathā; in lived Shaiva sādhanā this pairs naturally with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before or after listening to scripture.