Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

अद्यप्रभृति दुर्मार्गे तत्र श्रद्धा भवेत्तु वः । मोक्षमार्गविहीने हि सदा श्रुतिबहिर्मुखे

Transliteration

adyaprabhṛti durmārge tatra śraddhā bhavettu vaḥ | mokṣamārgavihīne hi sadā śrutibahirmukhe

Translation

From this day onward, let your faith not rest upon that evil path—bereft of the way to mokṣa and ever turned away from the Vedic revelation.

Word by Word

अद्यtoday

प्रभृतिfrom (now) onward

दुर्मार्गेin the bad path

तत्रthere/in that

श्रद्धाfaith

भवेत्may be/should be

तुbut/indeed

वःyour

मोक्षमार्गविहीनेin (that which is) devoid of the path to liberation

हिindeed/for

सदाalways

श्रुतिबहिर्मुखेin (that which is) turned away from the Veda/śruti

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns devotees to withdraw faith from adharmic, misleading paths and to align their life with the mokṣa-mārga—conduct and devotion rooted in Śruti—so the soul may move toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is meant to be a Śruti-aligned, mokṣa-oriented practice; this verse cautions that devotion becomes fruitless if it turns away from scriptural dharma and the liberating intent behind Saguna Shiva worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to follow Śaiva dharma-based sādhana—regular Shiva-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined conduct—rather than pursuing practices that reject Śruti and do not lead to liberation.