Shloka 8

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

येन केनाप्युपायेन पुण्यक्षेत्रे वसेन्नरः । सिंधोः शतनदीतीरे संति क्षेत्राण्यनेकशः

Transliteration

yena kenāpyupāyena puṇyakṣetre vasennaraḥ | siṃdhoḥ śatanadītīre saṃti kṣetrāṇyanekaśaḥ

Translation

ഏതൊരു ഉപായം കൊണ്ടായാലും മനുഷ്യൻ പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ വസിക്കണം. സിന്ധു നദിയുടെ ശതനദീ-തീരത്ത് ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള അനേകം ക്ഷേത്രപ്രദേശങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ട്.

Word by Word

• येन: by which
• येन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• केन: by what (any)
• केन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (even/also)

• उपायेन: by a means/method
• उपायेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• पुण्य-क्षेत्रे: in a holy place (sacred field)
• पुण्य-क्षेत्रे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive)

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

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सिन्धोः: of the Sindhu (river)
• सिन्धोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• शत-नदी-तीरे: on the bank of (the place called) Śatanadī
• शत-नदी-तीरे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'at the bank of the hundred rivers')

• सन्ति: are/exist
• सन्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• क्षेत्राणि: holy places/fields
• क्षेत्राणि: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• अनेकशः: in many (numerous) ways / many times
• अनेकशः: विशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); प्रकार/परिमाण (in many ways; in great number)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Geographic tīrtha-mapping: the text urges kṣetra-vāsa ‘by any means’ and points to Sindhu’s Śatanadī-tīra as a region dense with kṣetras—implying a network of Śiva-sanctified sites where grace is accessible.

Significance: Encourages sustained residence (not merely visit) in puṇyakṣetra to accumulate puṇya, purify pāśa, and stabilize sādhana.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Sindhu

FAQs

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

It teaches that deliberate association with a puṇya-kṣetra (holy region) supports purification of the pashu (bound soul) and accelerates merit conducive to Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Sacred kṣetras are traditionally established around Shiva’s presence (often via a Liṅga). Living there makes daily darśana, pūjā, and remembrance of Saguna Shiva steady and natural, strengthening bhakti and discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to stay near a Shiva kṣetra and maintain regular worship—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple temple-oriented observances; if staying there, keep a disciplined routine of purity and prayer.