Shloka 26

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

नर्मदायां नदीस्नानाद्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानं चापगे च गुरौ रवौ

Transliteration

narmadāyāṃ nadīsnānādviṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt | suvarṇamukharīsnānaṃ cāpage ca gurau ravau

Translation

مَن اغتسل في نهر نَرْمَدَا نالَ عالمَ فيشنو السماوي (Viṣṇu-loka). وكذلك مَن اغتسل في سُوَرنَمُخَرِي، وأيضًا في النهر المقدّس (الغانغا)، ولا سيّما يوم الخميس (يوم غورو) ويوم الأحد (يوم رَفِي)، حازَ الثوابَ المذكور.

Word by Word

• नर्मदायाम्: in/at the Narmadā (river)
• नर्मदायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नदीस्नानात्: from bathing in the river
• नदीस्नानात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी-स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नद्यां स्नानम् = नदीस्नानम्)

• विष्णुलोकम्: Viṣṇu’s world
• विष्णुलोकम्: Karma (कर्म/प्राप्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः लोकः)

• अवाप्नुयात्: should attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानम्: bathing at Suvarṇamukharī
• सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण-मुखरी-स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुवर्णमुखर्यां स्नानम् = सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपगे: in/at the river (Apagā)
• अपगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गुरौ: when Jupiter (is...)
• गुरौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• रवौ: when the Sun (is...)
• रवौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara

Sthala Purana: Narmadā is explicitly named; within Jyotirliṅga geography, Narmadā is classically tied to Oṃkāreśvara (Mandhātā island) and nearby Maheshwar/Omkareshwar tīrthas. The verse itself is not the Omkāreśvara origin myth, but it participates in the Narmadā tīrtha-mahātmyic promise of loka-prāpti.

Significance: River-bathing as a purifier and merit-generator; the stated phala is Viṣṇu-loka, showing the purāṇic inclusivity where tīrthas can grant various lokas depending on sankalpa and scriptural framing.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Weekday emphasis: Guru-vāra and Ravi-vāra are singled out as auspicious.

Characters & Entities

• Narmada
• Vishnu
• Suvarnamukhari
• Ganga
• Guru (Jupiter)
• Ravi (Sun)

FAQs

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

The verse praises tīrtha-snāna (bathing at sacred rivers) as a purifying act that removes impurities and grants higher realms; in Shaiva understanding, such external purity supports inner readiness for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

Tīrtha-snāna is presented as a preparatory purification for devotional worship; after bathing, a devotee becomes fit to perform Saguna Shiva practices like Linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata with greater sanctity and focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform sacred river bathing at revered tīrthas on auspicious weekdays, then continue with Shiva-oriented observances such as Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application, and Linga worship.