Vamana Purana — Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva, Shloka 40

The Saptarishis Seek Uma for Shiva: Himavan Grants the Marriage

Devanagari script

तात यास्ये महारण्ये तप्तुं घोरं महत्तपः आराधनाय देवस्य शङ्करस्य पिनाकिनः

Transliteration

tāta yāsye mahāraṇye taptuṃ ghoraṃ mahattapaḥ ārādhanāya devasya śaṅkarasya pinākinaḥ

Translation

「父上、私は大いなる森へ赴き、ピナーカの弓を携える神シャンカラを礼拝するため、恐るべき大いなる苦行を修めましょう。」

Word by Word

• तात: O father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• यास्ये: I shall go
• यास्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महारण्ये: in the great forest
• महारण्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great + forest)

• तप्तुम्: to perform austerity
• तप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive) ‘to perform austerity/to heat oneself’

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तपः’)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तपः’)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आराधनाय: for worship
• आराधनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-राधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the purpose of worship)

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शङ्करस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शङ्करस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; शिवनाम

• पिनाकिनः: of the bearer of the Pināka (Śiva)
• पिनाकिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘पिनाक-धारी’ (bow-bearer)

Speakers

• Primary narrative frame likely Pulastya → Nārada; within the episode: Pārvatī → Himavat

Primary Deities

• Shiva
• Parvati

Key Themes

• Shaivism
• Tapas
• Bhakti
• Vrata/Rituals (austerity as worship)
• Divine epithets

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

A clear intention (ārādhana) paired with disciplined effort (tapas) is presented as a legitimate path to divine grace. The verse valorizes steadfastness and self-restraint as expressions of devotion.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Falls under Vamśānucarita / Carita (exemplary narrative). Though tapas has ritual overtones, the passage is primarily story-driven rather than a calendrical vrata-prescription.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘forest’ signifies withdrawal from social identity into liminal space where transformation occurs. ‘Pinākin’ emphasizes Śiva’s protective/sovereign power—Pārvatī seeks not merely a spouse but alignment with the cosmic ascetic-lord.