Shloka 13

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

तस्यां स्नानेन वासेन पदं वैष्णवमाप्नुयात् । तमसा द्वादशमुखा रेवा दशमुखा नदी

Transliteration

tasyāṃ snānena vāsena padaṃ vaiṣṇavamāpnuyāt | tamasā dvādaśamukhā revā daśamukhā nadī

Translation

By bathing in her waters and dwelling there, one attains the Vaiṣṇava state, the blessed realm of Viṣṇu. The Tamasā river is said to be “twelve-mouthed,” and the Revā (Narmadā) a “ten-mouthed” river, branching into many streams.

Word by Word

• तस्याम्: in that (river/place)
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument) sense

• वासेन: by dwelling/residing
• वासेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument) sense

• पदम्: state; abode; position
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava (of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) पदम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• आप्नुयात्: may obtain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; धातुः—आप् (to obtain)

• तमसा: by/with (the river) Tamasā
• तमसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमसा (नदी-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; नदी-नाम; करण/सहकारक-भावः (by/with Tamasā)

• द्वादश-मुखा: having twelve mouths/branches
• द्वादश-मुखा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वादश मुखानि यस्याः/यत्र) — नदीविशेषणम्

• रेवा: (the river) Revā (Narmadā)
• रेवा: Karta (कर्ता/वाक्यविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेवा (नदी-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• दश-मुखा: having ten mouths/branches
• दश-मुखा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः — नदीविशेषणम्

• नदी: river
• नदी: Karta (कर्ता/वाक्यविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Tamasā (river)
• Revā / Narmadā (river)

FAQs

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

It praises tīrtha-snāna (holy bathing) and tīrtha-vāsa (dwelling at a sacred place) as powerful supports for purification and upliftment, indicating that sanctified environments and disciplined conduct accelerate the soul’s movement toward divine attainment.

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

In the Shiva Purana, sacred rivers and tīrthas are commonly presented as extensions of Shiva’s sanctifying presence; bathing and living near such tīrthas prepares the devotee for focused Saguna worship—especially Linga-pūjā—by cleansing impurities and strengthening devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a reverent bath in the sacred river, observe purity and restraint while staying there, and pair the practice with daily Shiva worship—such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Linga-archana.