Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency
किं दानै किं तपोभिश्च किं तीर्थपरिमज्जनैः । धारातीर्थे यदि स्नानं पुनर्भवमलापहे
kiṃ dānai kiṃ tapobhiśca kiṃ tīrthaparimajjanaiḥ | dhārātīrthe yadi snānaṃ punarbhavamalāpahe
À quoi bon les dons, à quoi bon les austérités, et à quoi bon se plonger dans d’innombrables eaux de pèlerinage, si l’on se baigne au saint Dhārā-tīrtha, qui efface l’impureté des renaissances répétées ?
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the tīrtha-māhātmya within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa discourse)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: This verse is a tīrtha-māhātmya style eulogy: Dhārā-tīrtha is praised as so purifying that it renders other meritorious acts (dāna, tapas, multiple tīrtha-baths) comparatively unnecessary. The implied origin is Śiva’s grace making a specific ford a concentrated locus of purification from punarbhava-mala (the ‘stain’ of rebirth).
Significance: Snāna at Dhārā-tīrtha is said to cleanse the mala of punarbhava (rebirth), i.e., remove karmic/āṇava accretions that keep the paśu bound, leading toward liberation.
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse teaches that a Shiva-sanctified tīrtha like Dhārā-tīrtha can directly purify the karmic defilement that causes punarbhava (repeated birth), making other merit-making acts feel secondary when performed without such Shiva-centered grace and devotion.
Dhārā-tīrtha is understood as holy due to Lord Shiva’s presence and blessing; bathing there is an outward act that supports inner surrender to Saguna Shiva, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s purifying power that leads toward liberation.
Perform tīrtha-snān (sacred bath) with remembrance of Shiva—ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a prayer for removal of punarbhava-mala (the impurity of rebirth).