Shloka 57

Glorification of Prayāga

The Gaṅgā–Yamunā Confluence

Devanagari script

पवित्राणां पवित्रं या मंगलानां च मंगलम् । महेश्वरशिरोभ्रष्टा सर्वपापहरा शुभा

Transliteration

pavitrāṇāṃ pavitraṃ yā maṃgalānāṃ ca maṃgalam | maheśvaraśirobhraṣṭā sarvapāpaharā śubhā

Translation

Dia yang paling suci di antara segala yang suci, dan paling membawa berkah di antara segala yang mujarab—yang turun dari kepala Maheśvara (Śiva)—dialah yang mulia, penghapus segala dosa.

Word by Word

• पवित्राणाम्: of the pure things
• पवित्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• पवित्रम्: the purifier/the purest
• पवित्रम्: Karta (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• या: she who
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• मंगलानाम्: of auspicious things
• मंगलानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मंगलम्: the auspicious (supreme auspiciousness)
• मंगलम्: Karta (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महेश्वरशिरोभ्रष्टा: issued from Maheshvara’s head
• महेश्वरशिरोभ्रष्टा: Visheshana (Qualifier of या)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त); √भ्रंश् (धातु) से क्त ‘भ्रष्ट’
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (महेश्वरस्य शिरसः भ्रष्टा = from Maheshvara's head fallen/issued)

• सर्वपापहरा: remover of all sins
• सर्वपापहरा: Visheshana (Qualifier of या)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ धातु से कर्तरि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वाणि पापानि हरति इति)

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Visheshana (Qualifier of या)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (contextual narrator within Svargakhaṇḍa dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: महेश्वरशिरोभ्रष्टा = महेश्वर + शिरः + भ्रष्टा (शिरः + भ्रष्टा → शिरोभ्रष्टा); पदच्छेदः: पवित्राणाम् पवित्रम् या मङ्गलानाम् च मङ्गलम् महेश्वरशिरोभ्रष्टा सर्वपापहरा शुभा।

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)

FAQs

Who is described as descending from Maheśvara’s head in this verse?

The verse points to the sacred river Gaṅgā, traditionally said to descend from Śiva’s head, celebrated as supremely purifying and auspicious.

What is the central teaching of this shloka?

It teaches the doctrine of sacred purification: contact with the supremely holy (here, Gaṅgā) is portrayed as removing sin and conferring auspiciousness.

How does this verse function in a tīrtha or Gaṅgā-māhātmya context?

It serves as a eulogistic marker (stuti) establishing the river’s theological status—supreme purity, supreme auspiciousness, and the power to destroy sins—supporting pilgrimage and ritual bathing traditions.