Shloka 8

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

तदतीव विचित्रं हि श्रुतं गुरुमुखाम्बुजात् । इतः पूर्वम्मया नोक्तं गुह्यप्राकट्यशंकया

Transliteration

tadatīva vicitraṃ hi śrutaṃ gurumukhāmbujāt | itaḥ pūrvammayā noktaṃ guhyaprākaṭyaśaṃkayā

Translation

それはまことにきわめて奇妙であった――我が गुरु（師）の蓮華のごとき口より聞いたのである。以前は、秘事が公に露わになることを恐れて語らなかった。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (demonstrative pronoun)

• अतीव: very, exceedingly
• अतीव: क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषण-विशेषक (Intensifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक अव्यय (intensifier adverb)

• विचित्रम्: wonderful, strange
• विचित्रम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: कर्म (Object: 'heard')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √श्रु (धातु); क्त-प्रत्यय (Kṛdanta)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरु-मुख-अम्बुजात्: from the lotus of the गुरु’s mouth
• गुरु-मुख-अम्बुजात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुरोः मुखम् अम्बुजम्; तस्मात्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• इतः: from this (time), hence
• इतः: काल/देश-निर्देश (Temporal/spatial marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), देश/कालवाचक

• पूर्वम्: previously, before
• पूर्वम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: formerly/before)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negation particle)

• उक्तम्: said, spoken
• उक्तम्: कर्म (Object: 'said')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु); क्त-प्रत्यय (Kṛdanta)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गुह्य-प्राकट्य-शङ्कया: due to fear of revealing the secret
• गुह्य-प्राकट्य-शङ्कया: हेतु/करण (Reason/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राकट्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुह्यस्य प्राकट्यस्य शङ्कया), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend verse; it signals guarded transmission of guhyajñāna (secret teaching) traditionally associated with guru-paramparā.

Significance: Emphasizes adhikāra: sacred knowledge is revealed only when the listener is fit, mirroring pilgrimage etiquette where inner meaning (rahasya) is disclosed through proper approach.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that the highest Shaiva knowledge is received through the Guru and must be shared with discernment, because sacred teachings transform the seeker only when approached with purity, readiness, and right intent.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva practices are outward supports for inner realization; the verse implies that the deeper, mantra-and-meaning aspect of such worship is traditionally guarded and transmitted through proper initiation and guidance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Seek Guru-upadesha for Shiva-mantra (especially the Panchakshara) and maintain disciplined japa and meditation, keeping the practice steady and reverent rather than treating it as casual or merely public information.