Vamana Purana — Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Shloka 23

Harihara Revelation and the Tirtha-Glorification of Saptasarasvata in Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

ततो ऽव्ययात्मा स हरिः स्वहृत्पङ्कजशायिनम् दर्शयामास देवानां मुरारिर्लिङ्गमैश्वरम्

Transliteration

tato 'vyayātmā sa hariḥ svahṛtpaṅkajaśāyinam darśayāmāsa devānāṃ murārirliṅgamaiśvaram

Translation

ਤਦੋਂ ਅਵਿਨਾਸ਼ੀ ਆਤਮਾ ਵਾਲੇ ਹਰੀ—ਮੁਰਾਰੀ—ਨੇ ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਹਿਰਦੇ-ਕਮਲ ਉੱਤੇ ਸ਼ਯਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦਾ ਐਸ਼ਵਰ੍ਯ ਲਿੰਗ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਵਿਖਾਇਆ।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (ततः=thereafter/from that)

• avyayātmā: the imperishable-souled
• avyayātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: avyayaḥ ātmā yasya/yaḥ ‘imperishable-souled’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hariḥ: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sva-hṛt-paṅkaja-śāyinam: the one lying in the lotus of his heart
• sva-hṛt-paṅkaja-śāyinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक) + śāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (locative/adhikaraṇa-sense): ‘lying (śāyin) in the lotus (paṅkaja) of (his) heart (hṛt), own (sva)’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• darśayāmāsa: showed/caused to be seen
• darśayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: darśaya (causative of dṛś, धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (Causative), लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• devānām: of/for the gods
• devānām: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• murāriḥ: Murāri (Viṣṇu)
• murāriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: murāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: murāyāḥ ariḥ ‘enemy of Murā’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• aiśvaram: divine/lordly
• aiśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of liṅgam

Speakers

• Narratorial voice (Purāṇic narrator) describing events to the primary listener(s) of the chapter (not specified in prompt).

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu (Hari/Murāri)
• Śiva (Īśvara, via Liṅga)
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava unity (Viṣṇu revealing Śiva’s liṅga)
• Darśana (revelatory vision)
• Liṅga as transcendent emblem
• Inner-heart (hṛdaya) theology / antar-yāmin motif

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why does Viṣṇu ‘show’ an Aiśvara-liṅga—what is the theological point?

The verse frames the liṅga as a manifestation of Īśvara (Śiva) disclosed by Hari, a common Purāṇic strategy to assert harmony rather than rivalry: Viṣṇu can be the revealer of Śiva’s sign, underscoring shared sovereignty and mutual reverence.

How should ‘svahṛtpaṅkajaśāyin’ be understood here?

Literally ‘lying on the lotus of his own heart,’ it evokes the indwelling Lord accessible through contemplation. In context, it suggests that the liṅga’s revelation is not merely external but also aligned with inner realization—Śiva’s sign is apprehended through divine disclosure and purified perception.

Does ‘liṅga’ here imply a specific temple-site?

This verse alone does not name a site; it functions as a narrative hinge introducing a sacred object of worship. Any precise tīrtha identification must come from surrounding verses of Adhyāya 36 where the location is typically specified.