Shloka 23

संध्यायाः शुद्धिः सूर्यलोकप्रवेशश्च — Purification of Sandhyā and Her Entry into the Solar Sphere

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां करनिस्सृततोयतः । सप्तनद्यस्समुत्पन्नाश्शिप्राद्यास्सुपवित्रकाः

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇumaheśānāṃ karanissṛtatoyataḥ | saptanadyassamutpannāśśiprādyāssupavitrakāḥ

Translation

From the water that flowed forth from the hands of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa, the seven sacred rivers arose—beginning with the Shiprā—exceedingly purifying to all beings.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-महेशानाम्: of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa
• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-महेशानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• कर-निःसृत-तोयतः: from the water that issued from (their) hand(s)
• कर-निःसृत-तोयतः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + निःसृत (कृदन्त; नि:√सृ) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘करात् निःसृतं तोयम्’ → ‘तस्मात्’ (from the water that flowed out from the hand)

• सप्त-नद्यः: seven rivers
• सप्त-नद्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• समुत्पन्नाः: arisen/produced
• समुत्पन्नाः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+उत्+पद् (धातु) → समुत्पन्न (कृदन्त, भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• शिप्रा-आद्याः: beginning with Śiprā
• शिप्रा-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier of rivers)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिप्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘शिप्रा आदिः यसाम्’ (beginning with Śiprā)

• सु-पवित्रकाः: very sacred
• सु-पवित्रकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पवित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘अत्यन्तं पवित्राः’ (very holy)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Shipra

FAQs

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

It presents sacred rivers as divinely sourced instruments of inner and outer purification, supporting the Shaiva aim of cleansing mala (impurity) and preparing the devotee for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

By linking purification to Maheśa alongside Brahmā and Viṣṇu, the verse frames tīrtha-snāna and sanctity as aids to Saguna Shiva worship—making the worshipper fit for Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and temple rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage bathing (tīrtha-snāna) with Shiva mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a practice of purification before Linga worship.