Shloka 26

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

नर्मदायां नदीस्नानाद्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानं चापगे च गुरौ रवौ

Transliteration

narmadāyāṃ nadīsnānādviṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt | suvarṇamukharīsnānaṃ cāpage ca gurau ravau

Translation

By bathing in the river Narmadā, one attains the heavenly realm of Viṣṇu (Viṣṇu-loka). And by bathing at Suvarṇamukharī, and likewise in the sacred river (Gaṅgā), especially on Thursday (Guru’s day) and Sunday (Ravi’s day), one gains the merit that has been proclaimed.

Word by Word

• नर्मदायाम्: in/at the Narmadā (river)
• नर्मदायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नदीस्नानात्: from bathing in the river
• नदीस्नानात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी-स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नद्यां स्नानम् = नदीस्नानम्)

• विष्णुलोकम्: Viṣṇu’s world
• विष्णुलोकम्: Karma (कर्म/प्राप्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः लोकः)

• अवाप्नुयात्: should attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानम्: bathing at Suvarṇamukharī
• सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण-मुखरी-स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुवर्णमुखर्यां स्नानम् = सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानम्)

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

• अपगे: in/at the river (Apagā)
• अपगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

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

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara

Sthala Purana: Narmadā is explicitly named; within Jyotirliṅga geography, Narmadā is classically tied to Oṃkāreśvara (Mandhātā island) and nearby Maheshwar/Omkareshwar tīrthas. The verse itself is not the Omkāreśvara origin myth, but it participates in the Narmadā tīrtha-mahātmyic promise of loka-prāpti.

Significance: River-bathing as a purifier and merit-generator; the stated phala is Viṣṇu-loka, showing the purāṇic inclusivity where tīrthas can grant various lokas depending on sankalpa and scriptural framing.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Weekday emphasis: Guru-vāra and Ravi-vāra are singled out as auspicious.

Characters & Entities

• Narmada
• Vishnu
• Suvarnamukhari
• Ganga
• Guru (Jupiter)
• Ravi (Sun)

FAQs

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

The verse praises tīrtha-snāna (bathing at sacred rivers) as a purifying act that removes impurities and grants higher realms; in Shaiva understanding, such external purity supports inner readiness for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

Tīrtha-snāna is presented as a preparatory purification for devotional worship; after bathing, a devotee becomes fit to perform Saguna Shiva practices like Linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata with greater sanctity and focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform sacred river bathing at revered tīrthas on auspicious weekdays, then continue with Shiva-oriented observances such as Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application, and Linga worship.