Shloka 43

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

नद्यश्च सप्त तासां तु नामानि शृणु तत्त्वतः । धूतपापा शिवा चैव पवित्रा संमितिस्तथा

Transliteration

nadyaśca sapta tāsāṃ tu nāmāni śṛṇu tattvataḥ | dhūtapāpā śivā caiva pavitrā saṃmitistathā

Translation

“ولهُنَّ سبعةُ أنهار. فاسمع الآن أسماءَها على الحقيقة: دْهوتَبابا (Dhūtapāpā)، شِيفا (Śivā)، وكذلك بَڤِتْرَا (Pavitṛā)، وأيضًا سَمِّتِي (Saṃmiti).”

Word by Word

• nadyaḥ: rivers
• nadyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective; (here) Prathamā, Bahuvacana sense; agrees with nadyaḥ

• tāsām: of those (rivers)
• tāsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana; pronoun

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (विरोध/अन्वयार्थक)

• nāmāni: names
• nāmāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā vibhakti (Nom/Acc), Bahuvacana

• śṛṇu: hear/listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana

• tattvataḥ: truly/in reality
• tattvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tattvatas (अव्यय; from tattva)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (यथार्थ/तत्त्वेन)

• dhūta-pāpā: Dhūtapāpā (she whose sins are washed away)
• dhūta-pāpā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūta (कृदन्त; धू धातु + क्त) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (dhūtāni pāpāni yayā sā), Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; river-name

• śivā: Śivā (name)
• śivā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; river-name

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• eva: also/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• pavitrā: Pavitrā (name)
• pavitrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; river-name

• saṃmitiḥ: Saṃmiti (name)
• saṃmitiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃmiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; river-name

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb/conjunctive ‘and likewise’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse enumerates sacred rivers whose very names signify purification—sin being “washed away” (dhūta) and the mind becoming auspicious (śiva). In a Shaiva Siddhanta sense, such tīrtha-remembrance supports inner śuddhi, making the devotee fit for Shiva-bhakti and grace.

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

Rivers and tīrthas are traditionally approached as preparatory aids—bathing, vows, and purification before Linga worship. By invoking names like Śivā and Pavitṛā, the devotee aligns with Saguna Shiva’s auspicious power, approaching the Linga with purity of body and intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-smaraṇa (remembering sacred rivers), coupled with śaucā (purity), and then performing Shiva worship—ideally japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” after bathing or mental purification.