Shloka 37

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

साष्टांगं च पुनः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणनमस्कृतम् । अभवत्पार्श्वतस्तस्य विनयावनतो द्विजाः

Transliteration

sāṣṭāṃgaṃ ca punaḥ kṛtvā pradakṣiṇanamaskṛtam | abhavatpārśvatastasya vinayāvanato dvijāḥ

Translation

మళ్లీ సాష్టాంగ దండవత్ ప్రణామం చేసి, ప్రదక్షిణతో నమస్కారం అర్పించారు. వినయంతో వంగిన దేహాలతో ఆ ద్విజులు ఆయన పక్కన నిలిచారు.

Word by Word

• साष्टाङ्गम्: (a) prostration with eight limbs
• साष्टाङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स+अष्टाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—स (सहित) + अष्टाङ्ग (तत्पुरुषः; ‘with eight limbs’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (again)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• प्रदक्षिणनमस्कृतम्: circumambulation and salutation
• प्रदक्षिणनमस्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिणा+नमस्कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—प्रदक्षिणा + नमस्कृत (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः; ‘circumambulation and salutation’)

• अभवत्: became; was
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पार्श्वतः: at the side
• पार्श्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पार्श्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/दिशार्थक (from the side/at the side)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• विनयावनतः: humbly bowed
• विनयावनतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय+अवनत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—विनयेन अवनतः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः; ‘bowed with humility’)

• द्विजाः: the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights communal śaiva etiquette: sāṣṭāṅga-namaskāra and pradakṣiṇā as shared acts that cultivate śuddhi (purity) and receptivity to grace.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights vinaya (humility) expressed through bodily worship—prostration and circumambulation—showing the devotee’s surrender to Pati (the Lord) as the gateway to grace in Shaiva devotion.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Pradakṣiṇā and namaskāra are classic outer acts of Saguna worship used before the Linga or the Lord’s manifest presence, training the mind to revolve around Shiva as the spiritual center.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform sāṣṭāṅga praṇāma and pradakṣiṇā with a prayerful mind; inwardly maintain remembrance of Shiva (often supported by japa of the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).