Shloka 14

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

गोदावरी महापुण्या ब्रह्मगोवधनाशिनी । एकविंशमुखा प्रोक्ता रुद्र लोकप्रदायिनी

Transliteration

godāvarī mahāpuṇyā brahmagovadhanāśinī | ekaviṃśamukhā proktā rudra lokapradāyinī

Translation

ഗോദാവരി മഹാപുണ്യനദിയാണ്; ബ്രഹ്മഹത്യയും ഗോഹത്യയും എന്ന പാപം നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൾ. അവൾ ‘ഇരുപത്തൊന്ന് മുഖങ്ങളുള്ളവൾ’ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധം; രുദ്രലോകം നൽകുന്നവൾ.

Word by Word

• गोदावरी: Godāvarī (river)
• गोदावरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोदावरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; river-name

• महापुण्या: very holy
• महापुण्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with गोदावरी

• ब्रह्म-गो-वध-नाशिनी: destroyer of (sins like) brahma-slaying and cow-slaying
• ब्रह्म-गो-वध-नाशिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + गो + वध + नाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'destroyer of (the sin of) brahma-hatya and go-vadha' (interpreting ब्रह्म as brahma-hatya)

• एकविंश-मुखा: twenty-one-mouthed/faced
• एकविंश-मुखा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकविंशति + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; dvigu 'having twenty-one mouths/faces'

• प्रोक्ता: is said; is called
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वच् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; 'said/called'

• रुद्र-लोक-प्रदायिनी: bestower of Rudra’s world
• रुद्र-लोक-प्रदायिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र + लोक + प्रदायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'giver of Rudra-loka'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: Godāvarī is praised as a supreme tīrtha whose contact destroys mahāpātakas (brahmahatyā, gohatyā) and, by Śiva’s grace, grants Rudraloka; this aligns with the Godāvarī’s sacrality at Tryambaka where the river is traditionally said to arise and where tīrtha-sevā is linked with Śiva-loka attainment.

Significance: Snāna/tīrtha-sevā on Godāvarī with Śiva-bhakti is framed as pāśa-kṣaya (bondage/sin attenuation) culminating in Rudraloka—i.e., proximity to Śiva’s sphere through anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Godavari

FAQs

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

It proclaims the Godāvarī as a Śiva-sanctified tīrtha whose sacredness purifies even grave karmic impurities and, when approached with devotion and right conduct, becomes a means toward Rudra-loka—nearness to Lord Śiva’s grace and liberation-oriented merit.

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

In the Shiva Purana, tīrtha-mahātmyas support Saguna-Śiva worship: bathing and worship at a holy river are framed as aids to Linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata, preparing the devotee for Śiva’s anugraha (grace) that leads toward higher realms such as Rudra-loka.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snānā (sacred bath) at the Godāvarī followed by Śiva worship—Linga-archana, Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and observance of purity and restraint—seeking purification and Rudra’s grace.