Shloka 9

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

सरस्वती नदी पुण्या प्रोक्ता षष्टिमुखा तथा । तत्तत्तीरे वसेत्प्राज्ञः क्रमाद्ब्रह्मपदं लभेत्

Transliteration

sarasvatī nadī puṇyā proktā ṣaṣṭimukhā tathā | tattattīre vasetprājñaḥ kramādbrahmapadaṃ labhet

Translation

聖なるサラスヴァティー河は至上の功徳をもつと宣言され、また六十の「口」（支流・分流）を有すると説かれる。賢者がその諸々の岸に、定められた順序に従って次々と住するなら、ついにブラフマンの位（最高の解脱の境地）を得る。

Word by Word

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī (river)
• सरस्वती: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• नदी: river
• नदी: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सरस्वती-विशेष्य (apposition)

• पुण्या: holy
• पुण्या: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रोक्ता: is declared/called
• प्रोक्ता: क्रिया-विशेष (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (said/declared)

• षष्टि-मुखा: having sixty mouths (i.e., many-mouthed)
• षष्टि-मुखा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (possessive: 'having sixty mouths/faces')

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); समुच्चय/तुल्यभाव (also/likewise)

• तत्-तत्-तीरे: on each respective bank
• तत्-तत्-तीरे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'on each respective bank')

• वसेत्: should dwell
• वसेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्राज्ञः: a wise man
• प्राज्ञः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रमात्: in order/gradually
• क्रमात्: क्रिया-विशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्राय प्रयोग (adverbial use of ablative); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; अर्थः 'क्रमेण'

• ब्रह्म-पदम्: the state/abode of Brahman
• ब्रह्म-पदम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'the state/abode of Brahman')

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Sarasvatī is praised as puṇyā and ‘ṣaṣṭimukhā’ (many-branched). Sequential residence on her banks is said to yield brahmapada—interpretable in Śaiva Siddhānta as approaching Śiva-sāyujya through progressive purification (mala-kṣaya) aided by tīrtha-kṣetra grace.

Significance: Promises gradual ascent through disciplined kṣetra-vāsa—purification culminating in ‘brahmapada’ (highest station), i.e., liberation/parama-gati.

Mantra Metadata

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It praises the Sarasvatī as a powerful tīrtha: sustained residence and disciplined movement along her banks purify the seeker and, by gradual spiritual maturation, lead toward brahmapada—liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Shaiva practice, tīrtha-residence supports Linga worship by strengthening purity (śauca), steadiness (niyama), and devotion (bhakti). The merit of the sacred place becomes an aid for focused worship of Saguna Shiva, culminating in realization of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies tīrtha-vāsa (dwelling at a holy river-bank) and orderly pilgrimage; in Shaiva observance this is naturally paired with river-bathing, japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and daily Linga-pūjā for gradual progress toward moksha.