Introduction and meaning by – Dr. Paturi Nagaraj
This stotram needs a clarificatory introduction. Katyayana vararuchi is generally famous as one of the Munitraya ( sage-trinity) of Sanskrit grammatical tradition. Pushpadanta mentioned in this stotra is generally famous as the author of the highly popular Shivamahimnastava.
Sri Paturi Sitaramanjaneyulu discovered the fact that Vararuchi and Pushpadanta are not different from each other. He established this fact with numerous proofs and arguments in his book (presently in Telugu) written as a commentary on Shivamahimnastava.
1.katagōtramahāṁbhōdhi – rākā pūrṇa niśākaraṁ
puṣpadaṁta mahaṁ vaṁdē – nāmnā vararuciṁ muniṁ
Meaning: I pay my respects to sage Vararuchi who is the full moon of the fullmoon day
born out of the great ocean[i]of the gotra (clan/lineage) of sage Kata, (taking him as)
named as Pushpadanta
2.namō vararucē tubhyaṁ – sarvāgamaviśārada
pāṇinīyamahaṁbhōdhi – karṇadhārāya sūrayē
Meaning: Oh Vararuchi! Oh master of all the Vedic scientific traditions! Oh scholar who
is capable of being a helmsman for those who would like to travel across the ocean of
Panini’s grammar (called Ashtadhyayi )! I pay my obeisance to you.
3.śabda śāstra payōvārdhēḥ – pratibhā yasya maṁdaraḥ
kātyāyanamuniṁ vaṁdē – mānyaṁ vararuciṁ hr̥dā
Meaning: I respectfully adore the venerable sage Vararuchi,the Katyayana whose
intellectual talent works like the mountain Mandara[ii]for (churning) the milk-ocean of the
science of language (Panini’s grammar).
4. śiva tattva midaṁ stōtraṁ – mahimnaḥ padapūrvakaṁ
yōkarōttaṁ vararuciṁ – puṣpadaṁtaṁ namā myahaṁ
Meaning: I pay my obeisance to Pushpadanta who is( none other than) Vararuchi who
composed this Stotram (praising/ prayer poetry) which is in fact the philosophy of Shiva
and in its name has the word ‘mahimnah’.[iii]
5.bhāṣyārtha bhāṣaṇē yasya – vākchrutēḥ sarvadhā samā
namāmi puṣpadaṁtaṁ taṁ – śābdikaṁ haravaṁdinaṁ
Meaning: I pay my obeisance to Pushpadanta whose speech is as authentic as the Vedas[iv]
in all respects in articulating the meaning of the ‘Bhashya’ (Mahabhashya, the commentary of
sage Patanjali on Panini’s Ashtadhyayi considered as one of the greatest works on grammar) and
who is a linguist and Siva’s Vandi (Court-adulator of Siva)[v]
6. siddhapramyaṁ puṣpadaṁtaṁ – kātyaṁ vararuciṁ muniṁ
śiva vaṁdi gaṇaśrēṣṭhaṁ – namāmi karaṇai stribhiḥ
Meaning: I pay my obeisance from my heart,through my words and through the posture of my
limbs to sage Vararuchi belonging to Kata lineage, who is (none other than ) Pushpadanta, who
is connaturally knowledgable and who is the best among the team of Siva’s Vandis
(Court-adulators).
7.anugrahēna kātyasya – yathāśakti nirucyatē
sītārāmaṁjanēyēna – śaivōhaṁ mahimastavaḥ
Meaning: This ‘Mahimastava’ of Siva is being interpreted by Sitaramanjaneyulu, by the
grace of the Katya (person of Kata lineage, here Vararuchi) as per his ability.
8. anugr̥hṇātu bhagavan – mahādēvō jagadguruḥ
anugr̥hṇaṁtu guravaḥ – saṁtaścēmaṁ janaṁ hr̥dā
Meaning: May Bhagavan Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) the world teacher bless this person
(the author, Sitaramanjaneyulu). May the Gurus (teachers) (of the author) and the good-
hearted people bless this person (the author, Sitaramanjaneyulu) whole-heartedly.
-Sri Paturi Sitaramanjaneyulu