Vamana Purana — Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu, Shloka 58

The Sarasvata Hymn to Vishnu (Vishnu-Pañjara) and the Redemption of a Rakshasa

Devanagari script

न मातरं न पितरं गौरवेण यथा गुरुम् सर्वदैवावगच्छामि तथा मां पातु पावकः

Transliteration

na mātaraṃ na pitaraṃ gauraveṇa yathā gurum sarvadaivāvagacchāmi tathā māṃ pātu pāvakaḥ

Translation

Just as I always recognize the guru with a reverence (even) greater than (that shown to) mother and father, so may the Purifier, Agni, protect me.

Speakers

• Devotee/supplicant voice; addressed to Agni (Pāvaka).

Primary Deities

• Agni

Key Themes

• Guru as highest authority in dharma
• Reverence (gaurava) and humility
• Agni as moral witness and protector
• Householder ethics (respecting parents, yet prioritizing spiritual instruction)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Is the verse diminishing reverence toward parents by elevating the guru?

No. The verse uses a comparative to assert the guru’s unique role in transmitting dharma and liberating knowledge. Puranic dharma typically upholds parents as venerable while also teaching that the guru’s instruction is decisive for spiritual orientation.

Why is Agni asked to protect someone based on an internal attitude (reverence)?

In Vedic-Puranic thought, Agni is not only physical fire but also the principle that ‘burns’ impurity and bears witness to truthfulness in conduct. Reverence toward the guru is treated as a dharmic qualification; Agni’s protection is invoked as the fruit of that qualification.

What does ‘avagacchāmi’ imply here—mere belief or lived recognition?

‘Avagacchāmi’ can mean ‘I understand/acknowledge.’ In this context it implies a sustained recognition expressed through behavior—accepting the guru’s authority and aligning one’s actions with that guidance.