Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

अक्षय्यं कल्पयामास जलं वरुणदां यया । ततो व्रीहीन्यवांश्चैव वापयामास भूरिशः

Transliteration

akṣayyaṃ kalpayāmāsa jalaṃ varuṇadāṃ yayā | tato vrīhīnyavāṃścaiva vāpayāmāsa bhūriśaḥ

Translation

By that power of devotion, he made the water bestowed by Varuṇa inexhaustible. Then the bountiful Lord had rice and barley sown as well.

Word by Word

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable/inexhaustible
• अक्षय्यम्: विशेषण (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; जलम् इति विशेषणम्

• कल्पयामास: arranged/caused (to be)
• कल्पयामास: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कल्पय् (धातु; √कॢप् causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘caused to be/arranged’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• वरुणदाम्: Varuṇadā (name of a river/stream)
• वरुणदाम्: कर्म (object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुणदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• यया: by which
• यया: करण (instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रम (sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-शब्दः; क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (then/from there)

• व्रीहीन्: rice grains
• व्रीहीन्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रीहि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• यवान्: barley grains
• यवान्: कर्म (object; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle)

• वापयामास: had (them) sown
• वापयामास: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वापय् (धातु; √वप् causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘caused to be sown’

• भूरिशः: Bhūriśa (name/title)
• भूरिशः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूरिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: In the Tryambakeśvara-māhātmya, Gautama’s tapas and Śiva’s grace are linked with the arising/maintenance of sacred water and fertility; the episode frames the sanctity of the tirtha and the Jyotirliṅga as the ultimate source of sustenance and dharma in a time of need.

Significance: Merit of bathing/ablutions and worship at Tryambakeśvara; removal of sins and support of dharma through tirtha-sevā and liṅga-darśana.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Varuna

FAQs

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

It presents a Shaiva theme: when actions are aligned with Shiva-bhakti and dharma, nature itself becomes supportive—symbolized by “inexhaustible water”—and prosperity arises to sustain righteous living and yajña/charity.

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

In Kotirudra contexts, devotion to Saguna Shiva as the Jyotirlinga-Lord is shown to bestow tangible grace in the world (water, crops), while pointing to Shiva as the inner sustainer (Pati) who empowers all deities, including Varuṇa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is water-offering and annadāna: offer pure water to Shiva-Linga with Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), then support others through food/seed charity—turning devotion into dharmic service.