Shloka 42

Bhaimaśaṅkara-māhātmya: Śiva’s Descent in Kāmarūpa and the Rise of Bhīma

Devanagari script

गंगायास्तवनं तेन बहुधा च तदा कृतम् । मानसं स्नानकर्मादि कृत्वा शंकरपूजनम्

Transliteration

gaṃgāyāstavanaṃ tena bahudhā ca tadā kṛtam | mānasaṃ snānakarmādi kṛtvā śaṃkarapūjanam

Translation

Then he offered manifold hymns of praise to the Goddess Gaṅgā. Performing the mental rite of bathing and the other inner purificatory acts, he then worshipped Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva).

Word by Word

• गङ्गायाः: of Gaṅgā
• गङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• स्तवनम्: praise/hymn
• स्तवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियानाम (praise/hymn)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• कृतम्: was done
• कृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘was done’

• मानसम्: mental
• मानसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्नानकर्मादि: bathing-rites etc.
• स्नानकर्मादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + कर्म + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः: स्नानकर्म (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष: स्नानस्य कर्म) + आदि (ending with etc.)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शङ्करपूजनम्: worship of Śaṅkara
• शङ्करपूजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शङ्करस्य पूजनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Gaṅgā-stuti and mānasa-snānādi preceding Śaṅkara-pūjā reflects the purāṇic/āgamic logic: purification (śuddhi) and invocation of sacred waters prepare the adhikārin for Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Models inner worship (mānasa-kriyā) as valid and potent; Gaṅgā as purifier supports Śiva-upāsanā even without physical access to tīrthas.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights inner purity (mānasa-śuddhi) as a valid spiritual discipline: praising Gaṅgā as a purifier and then performing manasa-snana shows that devotion and inward sanctification lead the seeker toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.

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

By moving from purification (Gaṅgā-stuti and mental bathing) to Śaṅkara-pūjā, the verse reflects the Shaiva ritual sequence used in Saguna worship—preparing the mind and then offering worship to Śiva (often as the Liṅga), where the inner act supports the outer rite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It explicitly suggests mānasa-snāna (mental bathing) and mānasa-pūjā—an inner visualization of purification followed by worship of Śiva—useful when external rituals are limited, and complementary to japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).