Shloka 4

Adhyaya 52: सोमाधारः, पुण्योदानदी, मेरुप्रदक्षिणा, जम्बूद्वीपनववर्षवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

अस्मात्प्रवृत्ता पुण्योदा नदी त्वाकाशगामिनी सप्तमेनानिलपथा प्रवृत्ता चामृतोदका

Transliteration

asmātpravṛttā puṇyodā nadī tvākāśagāminī saptamenānilapathā pravṛttā cāmṛtodakā

Translation

Dari sumber ilahi ini muncullah sungai suci bernama Puṇyodā yang bergerak di angkasa. Mengalir melalui jalur ketujuh angin, ia maju dengan air laksana amerta.

Word by Word

• asmāt: from this (source)

• pravṛttā: arose, set forth

• puṇyodā: giver of merit, the river Puṇyodā

• nadī: river

• tv: indeed/and (particle)

• ākāśa-gāminī: moving through the sky

• saptamena: by the seventh

• anila-pathā: path of the wind

• pravṛttā: flowing onward

• ca: and

• amṛta-udakā: having nectar-like water

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Puṇyodā (sacred river)

FAQs

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

It frames sacred rivers as divinely originated purifiers—supporting Shaiva tirtha-snana and ritual purity that precede Linga-puja, helping the pashu (soul) loosen pasha (bondage) through merit and sanctification under Pati (Shiva).

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

By presenting a heavenly, nectar-like river arising from a divine source, the verse reflects Shiva-tattva as the transcendent ground from which purifying forces manifest—grace that uplifts beings from impurity toward liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tirtha-related purification—especially sacred bathing and preparatory śauca—implied as supportive discipline for Shaiva worship and Pashupata-oriented self-purification.