Vamana Purana — Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Shloka 15

Harihara Revelation and the Tirtha-Glorification of Saptasarasvata in Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

इत्युक्ता वासुदेवेन देवाः केशवमब्रुवन् विधानं तप्तकृच्छ्रस्य कथ्यतां मधुसूदन यस्मिश्चिर्णे कायशुद्धिर्भवते सार्वकालिकी

Transliteration

ityuktā vāsudevena devāḥ keśavamabruvan vidhānaṃ taptakṛcchrasya kathyatāṃ madhusūdana yasmiścirṇe kāyaśuddhirbhavate sārvakālikī

Translation

既被婆苏提婆如此告诫，诸天便对计舍婆说道：“噢，摩度苏达那，请宣说‘塔普塔克利恰罗’（Taptakṛcchra，苦行忏悔）的仪轨；修行此法，则身之净化得以恒常（遍一切时）。”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-निर्देशक (quotative particle)

• उक्ताः: having been addressed
• उक्ताः: Karta-anuguṇa (कर्तृअनुगुण/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'having been addressed/told'

• वासुदेवेन: by Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवेन: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• केशवम्: Keśava
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अब्रुवन्: said/spoke
• अब्रुवन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• विधानम्: procedure/rite
• विधानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• तप्तकृच्छ्रस्य: of the Taptakṛcchra (penance)
• तप्तकृच्छ्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्तकृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular; name of a penance

• कथ्यताम्: let (it) be explained
• कथ्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'let it be told'

• मधुसूदन: O Madhusūdana
• मधुसूदन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुसूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Vocative singular

• यस्मिन्: in which/when
• यस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular; relative pronoun

• चिर्णे: when performed
• चिर्णे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) used with locative absolute; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'when practiced/performed'

• कायशुद्धिः: purification of the body
• कायशुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• भवते: becomes/occurs
• भवते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सार्वकालिकी: perpetual/for all times
• सार्वकालिकी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्वकालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to कायशुद्धिः; 'for all times'

Speakers

• The Devas addressing Vāsudeva/Keśava (Viṣṇu)

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu (Vāsudeva/Keśava/Madhusūdana)

Key Themes

• Inquiry into expiation (prāyaścitta)
• Vrata/fasting discipline
• Purification (śuddhi)
• Devas seeking dharma instruction

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is ‘Taptakṛcchra’ in dharma literature?

Taptakṛcchra is a recognized expiatory regimen (kṛcchra) characterized by austerity and regulated consumption, often involving warm/hot intake and progressive restriction. It is used to counteract impurity or transgression through disciplined bodily restraint.

Why do the Devas ask for a penance that gives ‘sārvakālikī’ purification?

The phrase indicates a purification whose merit/endurance is not fleeting—suggesting a prāyaścitta considered especially potent or complete, suitable for removing deep or recurring impurity rather than only immediate ritual blemish.

How does this fit the Saro-mahātmya’s broader purpose as a tīrtha text?

Tīrtha-māhātmyas frequently pair geography with practice: sacred places promise fruit, but the Purāṇa also prescribes vows, japa, and expiations that qualify the pilgrim. Here, the narrative pauses to codify a portable discipline (kṛcchra) that complements pilgrimage-based purification.