Shloka 6
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
यत्रेष्टवा भगवान् स्थाणु: पूजयित्वा सरस्वतीम् | स्थापयामास तत् तीर्थ स्थाणुतीर्थमिति प्रभो,प्रभो! जहाँ भगवान् स्थाणु (शिव)-ने सरस्वतीका पूजन और यज्ञ करके तीर्थकी स्थापना की थी, वहाँ वह तीर्थ स्थाणुतीर्थके नामसे विख्यात हुआ
yatreṣṭvā bhagavān sthāṇuḥ pūjayitvā sarasvatīm | sthāpayāmāsa tat tīrthaṃ sthāṇutīrtham iti prabho ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O lord, the place where the Blessed Sthāṇu (Śiva) performed a sacrifice and worshipped Sarasvatī—there he established a sacred ford. From that act it became renowned as ‘Sthāṇutīrtha.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links sacred place-making to dharmic action: worship (pūjā) and sacrifice (yajña) performed with reverence can consecrate a location into a tīrtha, a ‘crossing-place’ that supports purification and right conduct for later generations.
Vaiśampāyana identifies a specific pilgrimage site: where Śiva (Sthāṇu) worshipped Sarasvatī and performed a sacrifice, he established a tīrtha that became famous by the name Sthāṇutīrtha.