Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency
किं दानै किं तपोभिश्च किं तीर्थपरिमज्जनैः । धारातीर्थे यदि स्नानं पुनर्भवमलापहे
kiṃ dānai kiṃ tapobhiśca kiṃ tīrthaparimajjanaiḥ | dhārātīrthe yadi snānaṃ punarbhavamalāpahe
ما الحاجة إلى الصدقات، وما الحاجة إلى التقشّف، وما الحاجة إلى الاغتسال في مياه المزارات الكثيرة، إذا اغتسل المرء في تيرثا «دهارا» المقدّس، الماحي لرجس تكرار التكوّن والولادة من جديد؟
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the tīrtha-māhātmya within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa discourse)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: This verse is a tīrtha-māhātmya style eulogy: Dhārā-tīrtha is praised as so purifying that it renders other meritorious acts (dāna, tapas, multiple tīrtha-baths) comparatively unnecessary. The implied origin is Śiva’s grace making a specific ford a concentrated locus of purification from punarbhava-mala (the ‘stain’ of rebirth).
Significance: Snāna at Dhārā-tīrtha is said to cleanse the mala of punarbhava (rebirth), i.e., remove karmic/āṇava accretions that keep the paśu bound, leading toward liberation.
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse teaches that a Shiva-sanctified tīrtha like Dhārā-tīrtha can directly purify the karmic defilement that causes punarbhava (repeated birth), making other merit-making acts feel secondary when performed without such Shiva-centered grace and devotion.
Dhārā-tīrtha is understood as holy due to Lord Shiva’s presence and blessing; bathing there is an outward act that supports inner surrender to Saguna Shiva, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s purifying power that leads toward liberation.
Perform tīrtha-snān (sacred bath) with remembrance of Shiva—ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a prayer for removal of punarbhava-mala (the impurity of rebirth).