Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः

Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

पर्यस्तं गंगया सत्या स्थानपुण्यतरोदया । सर्वपावनसंकर्त्र्या विष्णुपद्या सुनिर्मलम्

Transliteration

paryastaṃ gaṃgayā satyā sthānapuṇyatarodayā | sarvapāvanasaṃkartryā viṣṇupadyā sunirmalam

Translation

ذلك الموضع مغمورٌ كلَّه بغانغا الحقّة—التي يجعل ظهورُها المكانَ أسمى في الثواب—وهي المانحةُ لكلِّ تطهير، النهرُ المقدّسُ المنبثقُ من قدمِ فيشنو؛ فصار بذلك بالغَ الصفاء والكمال في الطهارة.

Word by Word

• पर्यस्तम्: spread/strewn/covered
• पर्यस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√as (धातु) → paryasta (कृदन्त/कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; past passive participle used adjectivally

• गङ्गया: by the Gaṅgā (river)
• गङ्गया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन

• सत्या: by Satī
• सत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; proper noun Satī

• स्थानपुण्यतर-उदया: by (her) whose origin is more sacred due to the place
• स्थानपुण्यतर-उदया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇyatara (प्रातिपदिक) + udayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; समासः—(स्थानस्य) पुण्यतरः उदयः यस्याः/यया (having a more meritorious rise/origin due to the place)

• सर्वपावनसंकर्त्र्या: by the purifier of all
• सर्वपावनसंकर्त्र्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāvana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkartrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वं पावयति इति (one who purifies all)

• विष्णुपद्या: by Viṣṇu’s-foot(-born) (Gaṅgā)
• विष्णुपद्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + padyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; समासः—विष्णोः पद्या (the river from Viṣṇu’s foot; Gaṅgā)

• सुनिर्मलम्: very pure
• सुनिर्मलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + nirmala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse sacralizes a tīrtha by Gaṅgā’s presence: her manifestation (udaya) intensifies the puṇya of the locale and renders it ‘sunirmala’. In Śaiva reading, Gaṅgā’s descent functions as a grace-bearing purifier that prepares the aspirant for Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-jñāna.

Significance: Darśana/sparśa/snānā of Gaṅgā is framed as sarva-pāvanī—removing pāpa and ritual impurity, making the kṣetra fit for worship and inner purification.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Gaṅgā’s ‘udaya’ (manifest appearance/flow) as a sanctifying event

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse praises Gaṅgā as an unfailing purifier whose very presence magnifies the merit of a sacred place, teaching that outer purity (tīrtha) should support inner purity and devotion toward Śiva for liberation.

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

In Śaiva practice, tīrtha-snānā and sanctity of place prepare the devotee for Linga-worship—approaching Saguna Śiva with a purified body-mind so that devotion, mantra, and offering become steady and effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tīrtha-snānā (ablution) with remembrance of Śiva, followed by simple worship such as offering water to the Śiva-liṅga and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as an inner purification.