Vamana Purana — Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Shloka 25

Harihara Revelation and the Tirtha-Glorification of Saptasarasvata in Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

गोरोचनया त्वालिप्य चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना बिल्वपत्राम्बुजैर्देवं पूजयामासुरञ्जसा

Transliteration

gorocanayā tvālipya candanena sugandhinā bilvapatrāmbujairdevaṃ pūjayāmāsurañjasā

Translation

L’ayant oint de gorocanā et de pâte de santal parfumée, les dieux rendirent un culte au Seigneur avec des feuilles de bilva et des lotus, aisément et avec ferveur.

Word by Word

• gorocanayā: with gorocanā (yellow pigment)
• gorocanayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gorocanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• tu: and/then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, connective/contrast particle (तु)

• ālipya: having anointed
• ālipya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√lip (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), ‘having smeared/anointed’

• candanena: with sandalwood
• candanena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• sugandhinā: fragrant
• sugandhinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sugandhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/उपपद-समासभाव: सुगन्धि ‘fragrant’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of candanena

• bilva-patra-ambujaiḥ: with bilva leaves and lotuses
• bilva-patra-ambujaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (copulative): bilvapatrāṇi ca ambujāni ca; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• devam: the god (deity)
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pūjayāmāsuḥ: worshipped
• pūjayāmāsuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūjaya (causative of pūj, धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (Causative), लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• añjasā: readily/straightway
• añjasā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: añjas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचन used adverbially (instrumental of manner): ‘straightway/easily’

Speakers

• Narratorial voice describing the devas’ pūjā-upacāras.

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Deva, via Liṅga)
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Śaiva ritual upacāras (anointing, sandal, bilva)
• Auspicious substances (gorocanā, candana)
• Devotional immediacy (añjasā)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "shringara", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why are bilva leaves singled out in Śiva worship?

Across Purāṇic and Āgamic traditions, bilva is a signature offering to Śiva, symbolizing purity and auspiciousness; its repeated mention marks the worship as distinctly Śaiva and ritually complete.

What is the significance of gorocanā and sandalpaste in this context?

Both are auspicious anointing substances: gorocanā provides a bright, sanctifying hue associated with prosperity and protection, while sandalpaste cools and perfumes—together expressing reverence, purification, and ‘śītala’ (pacifying) devotion.

Does ‘añjasā’ imply anything beyond ‘easily’?

Yes: in tīrtha-mahātmya style, ‘añjasā’ can hint that the deity is quickly pleased and that worship at this liṅga yields accessible merit—though the specific promised fruits would be stated in adjacent verses.