Shloka 45

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

तीर्थराजं प्रथमतो धर्मकामार्थ मोक्षदम् । नैमिषं च कुरुक्षेत्रं गङ्गाद्वारमवन्तिकाम्

Transliteration

tīrtharājaṃ prathamato dharmakāmārtha mokṣadam | naimiṣaṃ ca kurukṣetraṃ gaṅgādvāramavantikām

Translation

First is praised the King of tīrthas, the foremost sacred ford, bestowing Dharma, Kāma, Artha, and Mokṣa; then (are praised) Naimiṣa, Kurukṣetra, Gaṅgādvāra (Haridvāra), and Avantikā (Ujjayinī).

Word by Word

• tīrtha-rājam: the king of pilgrimage places
• tīrtha-rājam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (tīrthānāṃ rājā)

• prathamataḥ: firstly
• prathamataḥ: Krama (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय), ablatival form meaning ‘firstly’

• dharma-kāma-artha-mokṣa-dam: granting dharma, desire, wealth, and liberation
• dharma-kāma-artha-mokṣa-dam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + da (√dā/√do ‘to give’, द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (dharma-kāma-artha-mokṣān dadāti iti)

• naimiṣam: Naimiṣa (sacred place)
• naimiṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naimiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• kuru-kṣetram: Kurukṣetra
• kuru-kṣetram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (kurūṇāṃ kṣetram)

• gaṅgā-dvāram: Gaṅgādvāra (Haridvāra)
• gaṅgā-dvāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (gaṅgāyāḥ dvāram)

• avantikām: Avantikā (Ujjayinī)
• avantikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avantikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Uma Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Avantikā (Ujjayinī) is praised among foremost tīrthas; in Śaiva memory it is sanctified by Mahākāla’s abiding presence, granting protection and liberation to pilgrims.

Significance: Tīrtha-sevā is framed as puruṣārtha-prada (dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣa). In Siddhānta terms, it supports purification (mala-kṣaya) and receptivity to Śiva’s anugraha.

FAQs

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

The verse ranks and remembers renowned tīrthas, teaching that sacred places support the four human aims—Dharma, Artha, Kāma, and ultimately Mokṣa—when approached with devotion and purity, aligning the pilgrim toward Pati (Śiva) as the liberator.

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

These tīrthas are traditionally associated with intensified presence of Saguna Śiva through temples, Liṅgas, and holy waters; visiting them with Śiva-bhakti, mantra-japa, and worship is presented as a means to purify bonds (pāśa) and turn the soul (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-yātrā with Śiva-upāsanā: bathe or perform ācamana in sacred waters, offer worship to a Śiva-liṅga, and do japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” dedicating the merit for inner purification and liberation.