Shloka 4

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

सप्तगंगानदीतीरं तस्या दशगुणं भवेत् । गंगा गोदावरी चैव कावेरी ताम्रपर्णिका

Transliteration

saptagaṃgānadītīraṃ tasyā daśaguṇaṃ bhavet | gaṃgā godāvarī caiva kāverī tāmraparṇikā

Translation

Great is the sanctity of the riverbank of the ‘seven Gaṅgās’, and the merit gained there becomes tenfold. (Among the sacred rivers are) the Gaṅgā, the Godāvarī, the Kāverī, and the Tāmraparṇikā.

Word by Word

• sapta-gaṅgā-nadī-tīram: the bank of the seven Gaṅgā-rivers
• sapta-gaṅgā-nadī-tīram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + nadī (प्रातिपदिक) + tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, prathamā/dvitīyā-vibhakti, ekavacana; multi-member tatpuruṣa with numeral qualifier—‘bank of the river(s) of the seven Gaṅgās’ (name-class)

• tasyāḥ: of that
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti, ekavacana; ‘of that/of it’

• daśa-guṇam: tenfold
• daśa-guṇam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, prathamā-vibhakti, ekavacana; predicate adjective—‘tenfold’

• bhavet: would be/should be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ-lakāra (optative), prathama-puruṣa, ekavacana, parasmaipada

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, prathamā-vibhakti, ekavacana

• godāvarī: Godāvarī
• godāvarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: godāvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, prathamā-vibhakti, ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (samuccaya)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (niścaya/avadhāraṇa)

• kāverī: Kāverī
• kāverī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāverī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, prathamā-vibhakti, ekavacana

• tāmra-parṇikā: Tāmraparṇikā
• tāmra-parṇikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + parṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, prathamā-vibhakti, ekavacana; proper name; karmadhāraya—‘copper-leaved’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Godavari
• Kaveri
• Tamraparni

FAQs

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

It praises tīrthas—especially sacred riverbanks—as places where purification and devotional merit intensify, supporting the Shaiva view that outer purity (snāna, pilgrimage) should aid inner purity (bhakti and jñāna) directed to Pati, Lord Shiva.

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

River tīrthas are traditionally approached with worship and vows, and such sanctified settings are considered especially supportive for Saguna Shiva-upāsanā—offering water, performing abhiṣeka to the Śiva-liṅga, and doing japa—so that devotion becomes steadier and more fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snāna (holy bath) followed by Śiva-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and, where possible, simple liṅga-pūjā/abhiṣeka with river water, undertaken with purity and restraint.