Shloka 6

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

महादेवीं त्रिजननीं गुरुं व्यासश्च भक्तितः । प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा मुनीनाह्लादयन्निदम्

Transliteration

mahādevīṃ trijananīṃ guruṃ vyāsaśca bhaktitaḥ | prāha gambhīrayā vācā munīnāhlādayannidam

Translation

With devotion, Vyāsa addressed the great Goddess—the threefold Mother and his revered spiritual guide. In a deep, steady voice, he spoke these words, delighting the assembled sages.

Word by Word

• महादेवीम्: Mahādevī (Pārvatī)
• महादेवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādevī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महती च सा देवी (the great goddess)

• त्रिजननीम्: mother of the three (worlds/triad)
• त्रिजननीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + jananī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: त्रयाणां जननी (mother of the three)

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

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक conjunction

• भक्तितः: out of devotion
• भक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause: ‘out of devotion’)

• प्राह: said/spoke
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गम्भीरया: with deep
• गम्भीरया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gambhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; वाचा इति विशेषण (instrumental feminine)

• वाचा: speech/voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• मुनीन्: sages
• मुनीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• आह्लादयन्: gladdening
• आह्लादयन्: Karta (कर्ता; सहक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + hlād (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘while gladdening’

• इदम्: this (statement)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Mahadevi
• Vyasa
• Munis

FAQs

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

It establishes the devotional and disciplic mood of the teaching: sacred knowledge is received through humility before the Guru and reverence for Mahādevī, who is praised as the cosmic Mother guiding seekers toward Shiva-realization.

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

Though the verse is introductory, it frames Saguna devotion as a valid gateway: honoring Mahādevī and the guru-principle prepares the mind for disciplined Shiva-worship (including Linga-upāsanā) and for receiving deeper teachings on Pati (Shiva), paśu, and pāśa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is guru-bhakti and Devi-stuti before study or worship—beginning recitation with a reverential invocation, then proceeding to Shiva-centered japa (such as the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steadiness and seriousness of mind.