Shloka 12

Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)

Devanagari script

गौतम उवाच । मातश्च श्रूयतामेतन्महता गिर एव च । तस्मात्त्वया च कर्त्तव्यं सत्यं च भगवद्वचः

Transliteration

gautama uvāca | mātaśca śrūyatāmetanmahatā gira eva ca | tasmāttvayā ca karttavyaṃ satyaṃ ca bhagavadvacaḥ

Translation

Gautama said: “O Mother, hear this also—spoken with great earnestness. Therefore, you must act accordingly, and you must uphold as true the word of the Lord.”

Word by Word

• gautamaḥ: Gautama
• gautamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gautama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mātaḥ: O mother
• mātaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/निपात)

• śrūyatām: let it be heard
• śrūyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive-style polite injunction (श्रूयताम् = let it be heard)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• mahatā: by great (one)
• mahatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• girā: by speech/words
• girā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तस्मात्), avyaya; ‘therefore/from that’

• tvayā: by you / you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); 2nd person pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• kartavyam: must be done
• kartavyam: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kartavya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); impersonal obligation

• satyam: truth / what is true
• satyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• bhagavat-vacaḥ: the Lord’s word/command
• bhagavat-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भगवतः वचः)

Speaker

Gautama

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes satya (truthfulness) and faithful compliance with Bhagavan’s word—key Shaiva virtues for purifying the soul (paśu) and aligning it with the Lord (Pati).

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

Linga-worship is not only ritual but also inner discipline; honoring Shiva’s command as truth is a form of bhakti that makes external worship fruitful and spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is vrata-like integrity: keep one’s vow, speak truth, and follow the Lord’s injunctions—ideally supported by daily Shiva-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful conduct.