Shloka 20

अध्याय 66: इक्ष्वाकुवंश-ऐलवंशप्रवाहः (त्रिशङ्कु-राम-ययात्यादि-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

येन भागीरथी गङ्गा तपः कृत्वावतारिता भगीरथसुतश्चापि श्रुतो नाम बभूव ह

Transliteration

yena bhāgīrathī gaṅgā tapaḥ kṛtvāvatāritā bhagīrathasutaścāpi śruto nāma babhūva ha

Translation

By his austere tapas the Bhāgīrathī Gaṅgā was brought down into the world; and Bhagiratha’s son, too, became renowned by the name Śruta.

Word by Word

• येन (yena): by whom

• भागीरथी (bhāgīrathī): the river Gaṅgā connected with Bhagiratha

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): Gaṅgā

• तपः (tapaḥ): austerity, ascetic heat

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having performed

• अवतारिता (avatāritā): caused to descend, brought down

• भगीरथसुतः (bhagīratha-sutaḥ): Bhagiratha’s son

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): also

• श्रुतः (śrutaḥ): Śruta (name), “the renowned/heard-of”

• नाम (nāma): by name

• बभूव (babhūva): became

• ह (ha): indeed (emphatic particle).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagiratha
• Ganga
• Shruta

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It links tapas (disciplined austerity) with sacred descent and purification: the devotee’s inner heat and restraint prepare the field for Shiva’s grace, just as Gaṅgā’s descent sanctifies the world—supporting the purificatory intent behind linga-pūjā and abhiṣeka.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Though Shiva is not named directly, the verse implies the Shaiva principle that divine transformation occurs through tapas culminating in anugraha (grace): Pati responds to the striving of the pashu by loosening pāśa (bondage) and allowing a ‘descent’ of purity and power into embodied life.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas—sustained austerity and disciplined practice (a Pāśupata-aligned emphasis on purification and self-restraint)—is highlighted as the means by which great sacred results manifest in the world.