Shloka 5

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा सूतो हृष्टतनूरुहः । नमस्कृत्य महादेवं गुरोः परतरं गुरुम्

Transliteration

iti teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sūto hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ | namaskṛtya mahādevaṃ guroḥ parataraṃ gurum

Translation

Thus, having heard their words, Sūta—his body thrilled with joy—bowed in reverence to Mahādeva, the Guru who is higher than all gurus.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक particle (quotative/thus)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive plural)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; नपुंसक-आकारान्त (vacas)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हृष्टतनूरुहः: with bristling hair (thrilled)
• हृष्टतनूरुहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + tanūruha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमास: यस्य तनूरुहाः हृष्टाः सः (one whose body-hairs are thrilled)

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas + kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); नमस्कृत्य = नमः कृत्वा (having saluted)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महांश्च असौ देवः (the great god)

• गुरोः: than the guru / of the guru
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th)/पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; here comparative construction with परतरम् (genitive of comparison)

• परतरम्: higher/superior
• परतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paratara (प्रातिपदिक; comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative)

• गुरुम्: the guru
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva)

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti-lakṣaṇa—devotional rapture (hairs standing on end) and humble surrender—showing that true knowledge begins with reverence to Śiva as the supreme Guru (Pati) who grants liberation.

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

By saluting Mahādeva as the highest Guru, the verse affirms Saguna worship as a valid doorway to realizing Shiva’s supreme reality; Linga-upāsanā is approached with the same attitude of surrender to the Lord who teaches through grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is guru-bhāva and namaskāra: begin Shiva worship with respectful prostration and remembrance (e.g., mentally bowing to Mahādeva before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).