Vamana Purana — Shiva's Wedding Procession (Part 1), Shloka 53

Shiva’s Wedding Procession to Kailasa and the Marriage of Girija (Kali)

Devanagari script

हिमवानुवाच इमे सप्तर्षयः पुण्या याचितारः सुतां मम महेश्वरार्थं कन्यां तु तच्चावेद्यं भवत्सु वै

Transliteration

himavānuvāca ime saptarṣayaḥ puṇyā yācitāraḥ sutāṃ mama maheśvarārthaṃ kanyāṃ tu taccāvedyaṃ bhavatsu vai

Translation

{'vindhyaḥ': 'Vindhya (major Indian mountain range)', 'malayaḥ': 'Malaya (mountain range; associated with the far south in Purāṇic geography)', 'pāriyātraḥ': 'Pāriyātra (mountain/range name)', 'durdaraḥ': "Durdara (a mountain name; lit. 'hard to split/overcome')", 'kailāsa-adriḥ': 'Kailāsa (Śiva-associated sacred mountain)', 'mahendraḥ': 'Mahendra (mountain name; also an epithet of Indra)', 'niṣadhaḥ': 'Niṣadha (mountain/range name in Purāṇic cosmography)', 'añjana-parvataḥ': 'Añjana mountain (a mountain name)'}

Speakers

• Himavān to the assembled sages (in the presence of Nārada and the Saptarṣis)

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Maheśvara)

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Marriage alliance (Śiva’s bride)
• Rishi mediation and social dharma
• Kanyā-dāna ethics

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even when the request concerns the highest deity, dharma proceeds through proper social forms: petition, disclosure, and counsel. The verse highlights accountability—Himavat does not act unilaterally but consults the wise.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Ākhyāna/Vamśānucarita-type narrative: it contributes to the legendary-historical thread around divine unions and their consequences in sacred history.

What is the symbolic significance?

The Saptarṣis as ‘yācitāraḥ’ indicate that cosmic order is maintained through ṛṣi-guided procedure; Maheśvara’s ‘artham’ frames the marriage not as private desire but as a cosmic purpose.