Shloka 3
Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ
Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit
ततो देवालयं विद्यात्तीर्थतीरं ततो दश । ततो दशगुणं नद्यास्तीर्थनद्यास्ततो दश
tato devālayaṃ vidyāttīrthatīraṃ tato daśa | tato daśaguṇaṃ nadyāstīrthanadyāstato daśa
ليُعلَم أن معبد الآلهة (ديفالايا) أعظمُ ثوابًا بعشرة أضعاف من ضفةٍ مقدّسةٍ عادية. والنهر أعظمُ منها بعشرة أضعاف؛ والنهر الذي هو بذاته تيرثا يكون ثوابه أعظمَ بعشرة أضعاف أخرى.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The verse ranks sacred loci (tīrtha-bank < devālaya < river < tīrtha-river). In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā this hierarchy implicitly culminates in Kāśī, where the presence of Viśveśvara makes the whole kṣetra a living tīrtha and grants accelerated merit and liberation-oriented fruit.
Significance: Affirms the Śaiva principle that proximity to Śiva’s abode (devālaya/kṣetra) and contact with sanctified waters multiplies puṇya; supports tīrtha-yātrā and temple-darśana as grace-bearing aids for bound souls (paśu).
FAQs
The verse teaches a graded understanding of sacred space: as the sanctity becomes more concentrated (from a mere tīrtha-bank to temple worship, to rivers, and especially tīrtha-rivers), the capacity to support devotion, purification, and Shiva-oriented merit increases.
A devālaya implies established worship with rules of purity, mantra, and offering—especially fitting for Saguna Shiva worship through the Śiva-liṅga. The verse supports the Shaiva view that consecrated places intensify bhakti and make worship more fruitful.
It suggests prioritizing temple-based Shiva worship and tīrtha-bathing where available, accompanied by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple offerings to the liṅga with a focused, purified mind.