Shloka 36

गौतमस्य शिवदर्शनं पापक्षयवचनं च | Gautama’s Vision of Śiva and the Teaching on Sin and Purification

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवा ऋषयश्च पुरातनाः । सुतार्थान्यप्यनेकानि क्षेत्राणि विविधानि च

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare devā ṛṣayaśca purātanāḥ | sutārthānyapyanekāni kṣetrāṇi vividhāni ca

Translation

Meanwhile, the gods and the ancient ṛṣis also set forth to many sacred regions and diverse holy pilgrimage-sites, for auspicious purposes and spiritual aims.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-शब्दः (pronoun)

• अन्तरे: in the interval/meanwhile
• अन्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; स्थान/कालवाचकः

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचनम्

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• पुरातनाः: ancient
• पुरातनाः: विशेषण (Adjectival to देवाः/ऋषयः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• सुतार्थानि: purposes/boons for sons
• सुतार्थानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुतस्य अर्थाः)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), समुच्चय/अप्यर्थे (also/even)

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: विशेषण (Adjectival to सुतार्थानि/क्षेत्राणि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• क्षेत्राणि: holy places/fields
• क्षेत्राणि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: विशेषण (Adjectival to क्षेत्राणि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General kṣetra/tīrtha movement: devas and ancient ṛṣis proceed to various holy places for spiritual aims, reflecting the Purāṇic map of salvific geography rather than a single jyotirliṅga episode.

Significance: Affirms tīrtha-yātrā as a means for purification and merit; in Siddhānta terms, such acts can attenuate pāśa (bondage) and prepare the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It highlights that even devas and ancient ṛṣis pursue dharmic aims by going to kṣetras—sacred spaces where devotion to Lord Shiva ripens quickly, supporting purification (śuddhi) and readiness for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā emphasizes kṣetras—especially Jyotirliṅga regions—where Saguna Shiva is worshipped through liṅga-sevā, pūjā, and darśana; this verse sets the narrative tone that sacred geography aids focused devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-yātrā with Shiva-bhakti: perform liṅga-arcana at the kṣetra, recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and maintain purity through simple vrata and prayer during the pilgrimage.