Shloka 33

अत्रीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Atrīśvara”

Devanagari script

दर्शयामास तां तत्र गंगां पत्ये पतिव्रता । गर्ते च संस्थितां तत्र स्वयं दिव्यस्वरूपिणीम्

Transliteration

darśayāmāsa tāṃ tatra gaṃgāṃ patye pativratā | garte ca saṃsthitāṃ tatra svayaṃ divyasvarūpiṇīm

Translation

Dort zeigte die treue Gattin ihrem Mann die Göttin Gaṅgā, die aus eigenem Willen in strahlend göttlicher Gestalt in einer Vertiefung (Grube) an jenem Ort stand.

Word by Word

• दर्शयामास: showed
• दर्शयामास: Kriya (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दर्शय (णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: caused to see/showed)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• गङ्गाम्: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पत्ये: to (her) husband
• पत्ये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• पतिव्रता: the devoted wife
• पतिव्रता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• गर्ते: in a pit/hollow
• गर्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

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

• संस्थिताम्: situated, standing
• संस्थिताम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्वयम्: herself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• दिव्यस्वरूपिणीम्: of divine form
• दिव्यस्वरूपिणीम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (of divine form)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Gaṅgā appears in divya-svarūpa, localized in a garta (hollow), suggesting a concealed/accessible epiphany of the sacred river at a specific spot—typical of tīrtha-māhātmya narratives.

Significance: Darśana of a divinized tīrtha is treated as direct contact with sanctifying power; in Siddhānta terms, it supports mala-kṣaya and prepares the paśu for grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse highlights tīrtha-śakti: a sacred presence (Gaṅgā) can manifest in a tangible, divine form, affirming that grace descends where devotion and dharma are upheld.

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

In the Kotirudrasaṃhitā, tīrthas and Jyotirliṅga-kṣetras are linked; Gaṅgā’s manifest divinity supports Saguna devotion—pilgrimage, darśana, and reverence to sacred loci connected to Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-darśana with mantra-japa—remembering Śiva with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while honoring Gaṅgā as a purifier associated with Śiva’s sacred geography.