Shloka 22

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

केदारोदकपानं च स्नानं च ज्ञानदं विदुः । गोदावर्यां सिंहमासे स्नायात्सिंहबृहस्पतौ

Transliteration

kedārodakapānaṃ ca snānaṃ ca jñānadaṃ viduḥ | godāvaryāṃ siṃhamāse snāyātsiṃhabṛhaspatau

Translation

Die Weisen wissen: Sowohl das Trinken des heiligen Wassers von Kedāra als auch das Bad darin schenkt geistige Erkenntnis. Ebenso soll man im Monat Siṃha (Löwe) im Fluss Godāvarī baden, besonders wenn Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) in Siṃha steht—ein Bad von höchstem Verdienst.

Word by Word

• केदार-उदक-पानम्: drinking of Kedāra-water
• केदार-उदक-पानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केदार (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (केदारस्य उदकस्य पानम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ज्ञान-दम्: knowledge-giving
• ज्ञान-दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + द (√दा धातु, दान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थः (ज्ञानं ददाति इति)

• विदुः: they know/consider
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गोदावर्याम्: in the Godāvarī (river)
• गोदावर्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोदावरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (locative)

• सिंह-मासे: in the month of Siṃha (Leo)
• सिंह-मासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सिंहस्य मासः)

• स्नायात्: one should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सिंह-बृहस्पतौ: when Jupiter is in Siṃha (Leo)
• सिंह-बृहस्पतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सिंहे बृहस्पतिः/बृहस्पतेः सिंहस्थाने)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-tirtha and vrata merits to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kedāranātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kedāra is revered as a jyotirliṅga where Śiva is approached through austere Himalayan sanctity; the verse highlights kedāra-udaka (sacred water) whose drinking and bathing are said to yield jñāna, aligning tīrtha with transformative purification.

Significance: Drinking and bathing in Kedāra’s sacred waters are praised as jñāna-dāyaka; pilgrimage integrates tapas, śauca, and devotion, oriented toward Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Jupiter-in-Leo (Siṃha-bṛhaspati) and Siṃha-māsa bathing in Godāvarī indicates a Kumbha/puṣkara-style auspicious cycle.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kedarnath (Kedāra)
• Godavari (Godāvarī)
• Brihaspati (Jupiter)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred waters connected to Shiva—especially Kedāra and the Godāvarī—are not only purifying but also supportive of jñāna (spiritual insight), aligning outer pilgrimage with inner awakening in the Shaiva path.

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

Kedāra is revered as a Shiva-tirtha (and traditionally as a Jyotirlinga region), so honoring its waters and performing prescribed baths are extensions of Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Shiva through consecrated places, rites, and tangible sacred media.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tirtha-snana and drink sanctified Kedāra water with reverence; for Godāvarī, bathe during Siṃha-māsa—especially when Jupiter is in Leo—then continue with Shiva-upāsanā such as japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple worship.