Shloka 2

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

तत्पूर्वदिशि कोटीशं लिंगं सर्ववरप्रदम् । गोदावर्य्याः पश्चिमे तल्लिंगं पशुपतिनामकम्

Transliteration

tatpūrvadiśi koṭīśaṃ liṃgaṃ sarvavarapradam | godāvaryyāḥ paścime talliṃgaṃ paśupatināmakam

Translation

To the east of that place stands the Koṭīśa Liṅga, bestower of every boon. And to the west of the Godāvarī is that Liṅga known by the name Paśupati.

Word by Word

• tat-pūrva-diśi: in the eastern direction of that (place)
• tat-pūrva-diśi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दिश्), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'तस्यां पूर्वदिशि' (in its eastern direction)

• koṭīśam: Koṭīśa (name)
• koṭīśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭīśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• liṅgam: liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sarva-vara-pradam: granting all boons
• sarva-vara-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'सर्वान् वरान् प्रददाति' (giver of all boons)

• godāvaryyāḥ: of the Godāvarī (river)
• godāvaryyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: godāvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• paścime: in the west
• paścime: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशिवाचक-विशेषणस्य स्थानवाचक-प्रयोगः

• tat-liṅgam: that liṅga
• tat-liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'तत् लिङ्गम्' (that liṅga)

• paśupati-nāmakam: named “Paśupati”
• paśupati-nāmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paśupati (प्रातिपदिक) + nāmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'पशुपति-नाम' (named Paśupati)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: Koṭīśa and Paśupati are described as sacred liṅgas situated in relation to the Godāvarī; the passage functions as a tīrtha-māhātmya mapping of liṅga-sites around the Godāvarī/Trimbak region rather than narrating a full jyotirliṅga theophany in this verse.

Significance: Darśana/abhiṣeka here is praised as sarva-vara-prada (granting boons) and as Paśupati-darśana (recognizing Śiva as Lord of all beings), aligning with Śaiva Siddhānta’s emphasis on Pati as the sole giver of anugraha.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Godavari
• Kotisha Linga
• Pashupati

FAQs

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

It maps sacred Śiva-liṅgas by direction and river-location, teaching that specific tīrthas become accessible gateways to Śiva’s grace—where the devotee approaches Pati (Lord) for anugraha (liberating favor) through darśana and worship.

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

By naming Koṭīśa and Paśupati as identifiable Liṅgas, the text presents Saguna Śiva as compassionately available in a consecrated form; worship of the Liṅga (abhisheka, mantra, and devotion) becomes a concrete means to receive boons and progress toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake tīrtha-yātrā to these Liṅgas for darśana, perform Śiva-liṅga abhiṣeka with water (especially with Godāvarī-jala if available), and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with bhakti.