Vamana Purana — Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Shloka 20

Harihara Revelation and the Tirtha-Glorification of Saptasarasvata in Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

क्वासौ वद जगन्नाथ शंभुस्तिष्ठति केशव यं क्षीराद्यभिषेकेण स्नापयामो विधानतः

Transliteration

kvāsau vada jagannātha śaṃbhustiṣṭhati keśava yaṃ kṣīrādyabhiṣekeṇa snāpayāmo vidhānataḥ

Translation

“Xin hãy nói cho chúng tôi, hỡi Chúa tể của vũ trụ, hỡi Keśava: Śambhu (Śiva) đang ngự ở đâu? Chúng tôi muốn tắm gội Ngài theo đúng nghi thức, bằng lễ quán đảnh với sữa và các vật phẩm khác.”

Word by Word

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-देशवाचक (interrogative adverb of place)

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वद: tell/say
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जगन्नाथ: O Lord of the world
• जगन्नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः नाथः)

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तिष्ठति: stands/is present
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• केशव: O Keśava
• केशव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षीराद्यभिषेकेण: with an ablution of milk etc.
• क्षीराद्यभिषेकेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + आदि + अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: (क्षीर-आदि)-तत्पुरुष + अभिषेक (क्षीरादिभिः अभिषेकः)

• स्नापयामः: we bathe (him)
• स्नापयामः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: स्नापयति)

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानतः: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'according to rule'

Speakers

• The Devas (gods) addressing Viṣṇu (Keśava).

Primary Deities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

Key Themes

• Shaiva–Vaishnava Unity
• Ritual Abhiṣeka
• Deva inquiry into divine presence
• Iconic/inner presence of deity (antaryāmin)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why do the Devas ask where Śiva ‘stands’ if Śiva is omnipresent?

The question is framed ritually: they seek a concrete locus for abhiṣeka (a prescribed ceremonial bathing). The narrative uses this to introduce the doctrine that Śiva’s presence can be apprehended not only externally (in a liṅga or shrine) but also as an indwelling reality revealed by Viṣṇu.

What does “kṣīrādyabhiṣeka” imply in Purāṇic worship?

It indicates pañcāmṛta-style or similar ablutions—milk and other auspicious substances—performed ‘vidhānataḥ,’ i.e., according to śāstric procedure, emphasizing correct ritual order and intention.

Is this verse primarily about geography (tīrtha) or theology?

Although located within a māhātmya section associated with sacred places, this particular verse is theological and ritual: it sets up a teaching on Śiva–Viṣṇu interrelation and the proper object/locus of worship.