Shloka 14

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

गोदावरी महापुण्या ब्रह्मगोवधनाशिनी । एकविंशमुखा प्रोक्ता रुद्र लोकप्रदायिनी

Transliteration

godāvarī mahāpuṇyā brahmagovadhanāśinī | ekaviṃśamukhā proktā rudra lokapradāyinī

Translation

نهرُ غودافري بالغُ القداسة، يُزيل إثمَ قتلِ البراهمة وإثمَ قتلِ البقرة. وقد وُصِف بأنه «ذو واحدٍ وعشرين فمًا»، وهو يمنح عالمَ رودرا (مقامَ الربّ شيفا).

Word by Word

• गोदावरी: Godāvarī (river)
• गोदावरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोदावरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; river-name

• महापुण्या: very holy
• महापुण्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with गोदावरी

• ब्रह्म-गो-वध-नाशिनी: destroyer of (sins like) brahma-slaying and cow-slaying
• ब्रह्म-गो-वध-नाशिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + गो + वध + नाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'destroyer of (the sin of) brahma-hatya and go-vadha' (interpreting ब्रह्म as brahma-hatya)

• एकविंश-मुखा: twenty-one-mouthed/faced
• एकविंश-मुखा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकविंशति + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; dvigu 'having twenty-one mouths/faces'

• प्रोक्ता: is said; is called
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वच् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; 'said/called'

• रुद्र-लोक-प्रदायिनी: bestower of Rudra’s world
• रुद्र-लोक-प्रदायिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र + लोक + प्रदायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'giver of Rudra-loka'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: Godāvarī is praised as a supreme tīrtha whose contact destroys mahāpātakas (brahmahatyā, gohatyā) and, by Śiva’s grace, grants Rudraloka; this aligns with the Godāvarī’s sacrality at Tryambaka where the river is traditionally said to arise and where tīrtha-sevā is linked with Śiva-loka attainment.

Significance: Snāna/tīrtha-sevā on Godāvarī with Śiva-bhakti is framed as pāśa-kṣaya (bondage/sin attenuation) culminating in Rudraloka—i.e., proximity to Śiva’s sphere through anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Godavari

FAQs

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

It proclaims the Godāvarī as a Śiva-sanctified tīrtha whose sacredness purifies even grave karmic impurities and, when approached with devotion and right conduct, becomes a means toward Rudra-loka—nearness to Lord Śiva’s grace and liberation-oriented merit.

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

In the Shiva Purana, tīrtha-mahātmyas support Saguna-Śiva worship: bathing and worship at a holy river are framed as aids to Linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata, preparing the devotee for Śiva’s anugraha (grace) that leads toward higher realms such as Rudra-loka.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snānā (sacred bath) at the Godāvarī followed by Śiva worship—Linga-archana, Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and observance of purity and restraint—seeking purification and Rudra’s grace.