Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 5

गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्

Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship

Devanagari script

जलं नीत्वा ददौ तस्मै गौतमाय तपस्विनी । नित्यं निर्वाहयामास जलेन ऋषिसत्तमः

Transliteration

jalaṃ nītvā dadau tasmai gautamāya tapasvinī | nityaṃ nirvāhayāmāsa jalena ṛṣisattamaḥ

Translation

ତପସ୍ୱିନୀ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଜଳ ଆଣି ଗୌତମଙ୍କୁ ଦେଲେ। ସେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଋଷି ସେଇ ଜଳରେ ନିତ୍ୟ ଆଚାର-ନିୟମ ଅବିରତ ନିର୍ବାହ କରୁଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nītvā: having brought
• nītvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nī (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √nī ‘to lead/bring’; indeclinable verbal form

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• gautamāya: to Gautama
• gautamāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gautama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to tasmai

• tapasvinī: the ascetic woman
• tapasvinī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (नित्यत्ववाचक अव्यय)

• nirvāhayāmāsa: maintained/sustained
• nirvāhayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√vah (धातु)
• Form: Causative base (णिच्) + Periphrastic perfect (लिट्/परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• jalena: with water
• jalena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṛṣi-sattamaḥ: the best of sages
• ṛṣi-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय ‘best (sattama) among sages (ṛṣi)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Gautama

FAQs

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

It highlights niyama (disciplined daily observance): purity and regular practice sustain tapas, preparing the seeker for Shiva’s grace and inner steadiness.

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

Water is central to Shiva-upasana (abhisheka). The verse emphasizes that pure water and faithful daily routine support sacred rites, including Linga worship performed with devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a daily practice of offering pure water in Shiva worship (jala-abhisheka) with steady discipline, ideally accompanied by simple mantra-japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”