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

गोरोचना व सुगंधी चंदनाने लिंगाला लेप करून, देवांनी बिल्वपत्रे व कमळांनी प्रभूची सहजपणे पूजा केली।

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.