Shloka 20

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

शिवलोकप्रदा शैवास्तथाऽभीष्टफलप्रदाः । नैमिषे बदरे स्नायान्मेषगे च गुरौ रवौ

Transliteration

śivalokapradā śaivāstathā'bhīṣṭaphalapradāḥ | naimiṣe badare snāyānmeṣage ca gurau ravau

Translation

These Śaiva observances grant the realm of Śiva (Śivaloka) and also bestow the desired fruits. One should bathe at Naimiṣa and at Badarī, and also when the Sun is in Meṣa, and on a Sunday that coincides with a Thursday.

Word by Word

• शिवलोकप्रदाः: granting Śiva’s world
• शिवलोकप्रदाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + लोक + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘शिवलोकं प्रददाति’

• शैवाः: Śaivas (devotees of Śiva)
• शैवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय)

• अभीष्टफलप्रदाः: granting desired fruits
• अभीष्टफलप्रदाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीष्ट + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘अभीष्टं फलं प्रददाति’

• नैमिषे: at Naimiṣa
• नैमिषे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• बदरे: at Badarī
• बदरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• मेषगे: when (the Sun) is in Aries
• मेषगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेष + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘मेषे गतः’ (when [Sun] is in Aries)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• गुरौ: when Jupiter (is ...)
• गुरौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); here ‘Jupiter’

• रवौ: when the Sun (is ...)
• रवौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); here ‘Sun’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse links śaiva observances and tīrtha-snānāni (Naimiṣa, Badarī) with Śivaloka-fruit, reflecting a pan-Indian tīrtha network rather than a single jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Śaiva rites coupled with tīrtha-bathing are said to yield Śivaloka and desired results; calendrical auspiciousness (Sun in Meṣa; Sunday-Thursday concurrence) intensifies merit.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Saṃkrānti-style solar ingress implied (Sun in Meṣa) and weekday conjunction (Ravi + Guru) as auspicious yoga.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Naimisharanya
• Badari (Badrikashrama)
• Ravi (Sun)
• Guru (Brihaspati/Jupiter)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva observances are both liberating and beneficent: they can lead to Śivaloka (a moksha-oriented state of closeness to Pati, Lord Śiva) while also granting legitimate worldly aims when pursued with devotion and purity.

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

By prescribing Shaiva discipline and tīrtha-bathing, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship expressed through concrete acts—snāna, vrata, and pilgrimage—performed as offerings to Śiva (often centered on Liṅga devotion) to purify the pashu (individual soul) and loosen pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends tīrtha-snānā (ritual bathing) at Naimiṣa and Badarī, and emphasizes auspicious calendrical timing (Sun in Meṣa; Sunday/Thursday alignment). A Shaiva practitioner may pair the snāna with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering water to Śiva as a focused devotional practice.