Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3
अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance
तदा ब्रह्मसमादेशाद्देवी साक्षात्सरस्वती । प्रसन्ना स्वादुसलिला प्रावर्तत नदीशुभा
tadā brahmasamādeśāddevī sākṣātsarasvatī | prasannā svādusalilā prāvartata nadīśubhā
Alors, sur l’ordre de Brahmā, la Déesse—Sarasvatī elle-même manifestée—se fit bienveillante ; et ce fleuve auspicious se mit à couler, aux eaux douces et délicieuses.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: Sarasvatī manifests as a river by Brahmā’s ordinance; her sweet, auspicious flow becomes a purifying tirtha that supports later pilgrimage toward Kāśī.
Significance: Darśana and contact with the manifested devī-river is framed as auspicious and purificatory, enabling ritual completion and onward sacred travel.
Shakti Form: Lalitā
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights divine grace (prasāda): when the cosmic order is aligned (here, by Brahmā’s ordinance), the Goddess manifests as a purifying, life-giving flow—symbolizing the descent of śakti that supports dharma and spiritual practice.
In Saguna worship, purity and auspiciousness support devotion. The river’s sweet, auspicious flow signifies śakti assisting devotees in preparations for Shiva worship—such as cleansing, sanctifying offerings, and sustaining sacred spaces around temples and liṅga-pūjā.
Use sanctified water for ācamana and स्नान (ritual bathing), then perform Shiva japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a mind softened by gratitude, reflecting the verse’s theme of prasannatā (gracious blessing).