Shloka 39

Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)

Devanagari script

भवंतो मा भविष्यंतु शिवैक परदैवताः । अन्यदेवसमत्वेन जानंतु शिवमद्वयम्

Transliteration

bhavaṃto mā bhaviṣyaṃtu śivaika paradaivatāḥ | anyadevasamatvena jānaṃtu śivamadvayam

Translation

«لا تبقوا مجرّد من يعتقد أنّ شيفا وحده هو الإله الأسمى؛ بل إذ تعرفون شيفا بوصفه الحقيقة غير الثنائية، فافهموه جوهرًا واحدًا متساويًا حاضرًا في جميع الآلهة.»

Word by Word

• भवन्तः: you (respected ones)
• भवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (you, sirs)

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• भविष्यन्तु: let them be / become
• भविष्यन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• शिव-एक: having Śiva alone (as)
• शिव-एक: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘शिव एव एकः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (परदैवताः)

• पर-दैवताः: those whose supreme deity is (Śiva)
• पर-दैवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘परं दैवतं येषाम्’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अन्य-देव-समत्वेन: by (the notion of) equality with other gods
• अन्य-देव-समत्वेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + समत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘अन्यदेवानां समत्वम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भावे

• जानन्तु: let them know
• जानन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अद्वयम्: non-dual, without a second
• अद्वयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शिवम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal clarification: Śiva is not merely a sectarian 'highest deity' among others, but the advaya reality/inner essence through which other deities are understood—reconciling devotion with a higher metaphysics.

Significance: Encourages pilgrims to see all devatās as grounded in Śiva-tattva, cultivating non-sectarian reverence while maintaining Śiva as ultimate—supportive of mature bhakti and jñāna.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Other Devas

FAQs

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

It directs the devotee from sectarian exclusivism to a higher Shaiva understanding: Śiva is the non-dual Supreme (Pati) whose presence is the inner reality of all divine forms, leading the mind toward liberation-oriented knowledge with devotion.

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

Linga worship centers the devotee on Śiva as the supreme, all-pervading principle; this verse clarifies that even when worship is Saguna (with form), the truth realized is Śiva’s Advaya nature—one Reality shining through all divine manifestations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva-tattva as the indwelling Lord in all beings and deities while repeating the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating equal vision (samatā) grounded in Śiva as the one supreme, non-dual Reality.