Shloka 3

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

विरजाहोमसमये वामदेवमतम्पुरा । सूचितम्भवतास्माभिर्न श्रुतं विस्तरान्मुने

Transliteration

virajāhomasamaye vāmadevamatampurā | sūcitambhavatāsmābhirna śrutaṃ vistarānmune

Translation

噢，牟尼圣者，先前在举行毗罗阇火供（Virajā-homa）之时，你只是略示我们婆摩提婆（Vāmadeva）之教义；我们未曾从你处听闻其圆满详尽的阐述。

Word by Word

• विरजा-होम-समये: at the time of the Virajā-homa
• विरजा-होम-समये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरजा (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक) + समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (at the time of)

• वामदेवम्: Vāmadeva
• वामदेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अतम्: then/thereupon (uncertain reading)
• अतम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; पाठभेदसम्भवः—अत्र 'अथ'/'अत:' इत्यर्थे (textually uncertain particle)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly)

• सूचितम्: indicated
• सूचितम्: Karma (कर्म/उक्तवस्तु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सूच् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—संकेतितम् (indicated)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karta (कर्ता/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्तृ-तृतीया (by you)

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; कर्तरि/सहभाग (by us)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: Karma (कर्म/अनुभूतवस्तु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—श्रवणं कृतम् (heard)

• विस्तरात्: in detail
• विस्तरात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी) एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभाव (ablatival adverb); अर्थः—विस्तरेण/विस्तरशः (in detail)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vamadeva

FAQs

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

The sages ask for the complete exposition of Vāmadeva’s teaching, implying that liberation requires not mere hints but a full, lived understanding of Śiva’s doctrine—purification (virajā) leading to clear knowledge of Pati (Śiva).

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

By naming Vāmadeva (a revered aspect of Śiva), the verse points to Saguna contemplation as an entry into deeper Siddhānta: devotion to Śiva’s manifest form (including Liṅga-worship) matures into clarified teaching about Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It alludes to homa as purification and to seeking detailed upadeśa (instruction): perform purificatory worship with mantra and disciplined attention, then receive and contemplate Śaiva teaching in depth rather than remaining with brief indications.