Shloka 35

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

गतास्ते च तदा तत्र गंगा न गिरिशं विना । गंगा मद्भजनप्रीता साध्वी धर्मविमोहिता

Transliteration

gatāste ca tadā tatra gaṃgā na giriśaṃ vinā | gaṃgā madbhajanaprītā sādhvī dharmavimohitā

Translation

Then they went there, and Gaṅgā did not go without Girīśa (Lord Śiva). Gaṅgā—delighting in My worship—was a virtuous lady, her mind wholly absorbed, as though enraptured, in dharma.

Word by Word

• गताः: gone
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त, √गम् धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (used predicatively)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृ

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• गिरिशम्: Girish(a) (Shiva)
• गिरिशम्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विना-योगे (object with vinā)

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोगार्थक उपपद (preposition-like indeclinable: without)

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ (new clause)

• मत्-भजन-प्रीता: pleased with my worship
• मत्-भजन-प्रीता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भजन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीत (कृदन्त, √प्री धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mat-bhajana = my worship) + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (prīta = pleased)

• साध्वी: virtuous, chaste
• साध्वी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• धर्म-विमोहिता: confused about dharma
• धर्म-विमोहिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (कृदन्त, वि√मुह् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (dharma-vimohitā = deluded/confused regarding dharma)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (narrated within Suta Goswami’s recitation to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse evokes Gaṅgā’s inseparability from Girīśa, recalling the broader Purāṇic motif: Gaṅgā descends from heaven, is borne by Śiva in his matted locks, and flows for the welfare of worlds—her course is stabilized by Śiva’s sustaining power.

Significance: Association with Gaṅgā and Śiva signifies purification and dharma-stability through devotion; bathing and worship in Gaṅgā-tīrthas are traditionally linked with removal of pāśa (bondage) and accrual of puṇya.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that true sacredness and spiritual power are inseparable from Śiva: even Gaṅgā’s holiness is shown as fulfilled in accompaniment to Girīśa, emphasizing Śiva as Pati (the Lord) and the center of dharma and liberation.

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

By portraying Gaṅgā as devoted to “My worship,” the text highlights Saguna devotion to Śiva—commonly expressed through Liṅga-pūjā—where the devotee’s mind becomes absorbed in dharma and steadied by Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady bhajana/japa of Śiva (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside dharmic conduct; in pilgrimage contexts, approach tīrthas with Śiva-centered worship such as Liṅgārcana with water/gaṅgā-jala and mindful recitation.