Vamana Purana — Harihara Revelation, Shloka 25

Harihara Revelation and the Kurukshetra Tirtha Cycle: Sthanu in Vishnu and the Sanctification of Saptasarasvata

Devanagari script

दारुणत्वमधार्मिक्यं नरकावहमुच्यते एतैश्च पापैः संयुक्तः प्रीणयेद् यदि शङ्करम्

Transliteration

dāruṇatvamadhārmikyaṃ narakāvahamucyate etaiśca pāpaiḥ saṃyuktaḥ prīṇayed yadi śaṅkaram

Translation

କ୍ରୂରତା ଓ ଅଧର୍ମକୁ ନରକଦାୟକ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ। ଏହି ପାପମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଯୁକ୍ତ ହୋଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯଦି କେହି ଶଙ୍କର (ଶିବ)ଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନ କରିବାକୁ ଚାହେ…

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (didactic narration within Adhyaya 35).

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Karmic consequence (naraka)
• Limits of ritual without ethical reform
• Śiva-bhakti and moral qualification

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Does the verse imply that worship of Śiva is ineffective if one remains sinful?

The construction sets up a conditional: a person burdened with such sins may attempt to please Śiva, but the surrounding teaching typically stresses that devotion must be accompanied by ethical transformation; otherwise the ‘hell-bringing’ trajectory remains. The next verse (35.26) points to conquering residual sin through knowledge and discipline.

Why is Śiva named ‘Śaṅkara’ in a passage about sin and hell?

Śaṅkara (‘the beneficent’) highlights Śiva’s salvific capacity—he can purify and uplift—yet the text simultaneously warns against using worship as a cover for continued cruelty and adharmic life.

How does this relate to Purāṇic pilgrimage practice?

Pilgrimage and temple worship are repeatedly framed as most fruitful when paired with restraint (yama), truthfulness, and non-cruelty. This verse functions as a moral gatekeeping principle for sacred acts.