Shloka 4

अत्रीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Atrīśvara”

Devanagari script

तामनुव्रजती यावत् साब्रवीच्च सदा हि ताम् । गंगा सरिद्वरा देवी बिभ्रती सुन्दरां तनुम्

Transliteration

tāmanuvrajatī yāvat sābravīcca sadā hi tām | gaṃgā saridvarā devī bibhratī sundarāṃ tanum

Translation

Enquanto ela a seguia, a divina Gaṅgā—suprema entre os rios—, sustentando uma forma formosa, dirigia-se a ela continuamente e falou.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of अनुव्रजती)

• अनुव्रजती: following (her)
• अनुव्रजती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+व्रज् (धातु) → अनुव्रजत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (she following)

• यावत्: as long as/until
• यावत्: Modifier (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधिबोधक (as long as/until)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Modifier (विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Emphasis (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थ/हेत्वर्थ-निपात

• ताम्: to her/that (woman)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of अब्रवीत्)

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता (apposition)

• सरिद्वरा: best of rivers
• सरिद्वरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरित्-वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (गङ्गा)

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता (apposition)

• बिभ्रती: bearing/wearing
• बिभ्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु) → बिभ्रत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• सुन्दराम्: beautiful
• सुन्दराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तनुम्)

• तनुम्: body/form
• तनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of बिभ्रती)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating; within the story, Goddess Ganga is the direct speaker)

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Colophon marking the completion of the chapter ‘Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇana’.

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Gaṅgā as a conscious, divine power who guides and instructs—showing that sacred tirthas in Shaiva tradition are not merely places but living channels of grace that support the soul’s purification and devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

In Kotirudra contexts, Gaṅgā frequently appears alongside Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage themes: her divine presence supports Saguna worship by purifying the devotee and preparing the heart for focused reverence of Shiva’s manifest form (Liṅga) as the compassionate Lord who grants liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tirtha-sevana: approach holy waters with reverence, perform ācamana and स्नान (ritual bathing) with remembrance of Shiva (e.g., mental japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating purity and devotion before Liṅga-darśana.