Shloka 2

Adhyaya 52: सोमाधारः, पुण्योदानदी, मेरुप्रदक्षिणा, जम्बूद्वीपनववर्षवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

प्राङ्मुखा दक्षिणास्यास्तु चोत्तरप्रभवाः शुभाः पश्चिमाग्राः पवित्राश् च प्रतिवर्षं प्रकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

prāṅmukhā dakṣiṇāsyāstu cottaraprabhavāḥ śubhāḥ paścimāgrāḥ pavitrāś ca prativarṣaṃ prakīrtitāḥ

Translation

Les rivières tournées vers l’est sont dites, quant à leur vertu, comme orientées vers le sud ; celles qui prennent naissance au nord sont de bon augure ; celles dont l’« extrémité » est vers l’ouest sont purificatrices : ainsi est-il proclamé, année après année.

Word by Word

• प्राङ्मुखाः: east-facing

• दक्षिणास्याः: south-faced / having the south as the ‘mouth’ (ritual-facing aspect)

• तु: indeed

• च: and

• उत्तर-प्रभवाः: arising from the north / north-origin

• शुभाः: auspicious

• पश्चिम-अग्राः: having the front/tip toward the west

• पवित्राः: purifying, holy

• च: and

• प्रति-वर्षम्: every year, annually

• प्रकीर्तिताः: proclaimed, taught, traditionally recited

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional ritual-directional classifications within the Linga Purana’s puja/vidhi discourse)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It codifies auspicious and purifying directional orientations used to structure Shiva-puja, aligning the worship-space so the pashu (soul) approaches Pati (Shiva) through ordered, sanctifying ritual conditions.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly: Shiva-tattva is approached through purity (pavitrata) and right order (vidhi). The verse implies that sacred orientation is not mere geography but a ritual discipline that supports the soul’s movement from pasha (bondage) toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Dik-nirnaya (directional determination) as part of puja-vidhi—an external discipline that complements Pashupata-style inner discipline by establishing purity, auspiciousness, and correct placement/orientation in annual observances.