Vamana Purana — Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva, Shloka 8

The Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva: Himavan Grants the Marriage

Devanagari script

ततो ऽब्रवीत् सुरपतिर्नेयं शक्ता तपस्विनी शार्वं धारयितुं तेजो वराकी मुच्यातां त्वियम्

Transliteration

tato 'bravīt surapatirneyaṃ śaktā tapasvinī śārvaṃ dhārayituṃ tejo varākī mucyātāṃ tviyam

Translation

Then the lord of the gods said: “This female ascetic is not able to bear the fiery energy of Śārva (Śiva). The poor woman—let her be released from this burden.”

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (then/thereupon)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सुरपतिः: lord of the gods (Indra)
• सुरपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सुराणां पतिः); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• इयम्: this (woman)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शक्ता: capable
• शक्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘समर्था’

• तपस्विनी: the ascetic woman
• तपस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; गुणवाचक संज्ञा

• शार्वम्: Śiva’s
• शार्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; ‘शर्वसम्बन्धि’ (of Śarva/Śiva)

• धारयितुम्: to bear/hold
• धारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) ‘धारयितुम्’ = to bear/hold

• तेजः: splendor/energy
• तेजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन

• वराकी: the poor woman
• वराकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; दीनार्थक (poor wretch)

• मुच्याताम्: let (her) be released
• मुच्याताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन/बहुवचन?—रूपतः ‘-ताम्’ = 3rd dual imperative; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः ‘विमुच्येताम्/मुक्ता भवेताम्’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक

• इयम्: this (one)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speakers

• Indra (Surapati) to the assembly (Devas/Brahmā implied)

Primary Deities

• Indra
• Śiva

Key Themes

• Shakti/Tejas
• Asceticism (tapas)
• Compassion and restraint
• Sectarian Harmony

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power must be matched to capacity: even a tapasvinī may be unfit to contain a higher ‘tejas’. Ethically, Indra’s counsel introduces compassion and prudence—dharma includes not imposing what cannot be borne.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / deva–asura narrative context, with a thematic overlap into Sarga-like discourse on ‘tejas’ as a creative/destructive cosmic principle.

What is the symbolic significance?

Śārva-tejas signifies the absolute, transformative force of Rudra. The inability to ‘bear’ it symbolizes the limits of embodied forms before unmediated divinity—necessitating mediation, containment, or a more suitable vessel for the divine purpose.