Shloka 68

पार्वत्याः यात्रासंस्कारः तथा पातिव्रत्योपदेशः / Preparations for Girijā’s Auspicious Journey and the Teaching on Pātivratya

Devanagari script

यथा गंगावगाहेन शरीरं पावनं भवेत् । तथा पतिव्रतां दृष्ट्वा सकलम्पावनं भवेत्

Transliteration

yathā gaṃgāvagāhena śarīraṃ pāvanaṃ bhavet | tathā pativratāṃ dṛṣṭvā sakalampāvanaṃ bhavet

Translation

यथा गङ्गावगाहेन शरीरं पावनं भवेत् । तथा पतिव्रतां दृष्ट्वा सकलं पावनं भवेत् ॥

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमा/दृष्टान्तबोधक)

• गङ्गा-अवगाहेन: by bathing/immersion in the Ganga
• गङ्गा-अवगाहेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + अवगाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास (गङ्गायाः अवगाहः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• शरीरम्: the body
• शरीरम्: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पावनम्: purified; purifying
• पावनम्: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (शरीरम्)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातु: भू (1/भ्वादि)

• तथा: so; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तुल्यताबोधक adverb)

• पतिव्रताम्: a devoted wife
• पतिव्रताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + टाप्
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; धातु: दृश् (1/भ्वादि)

• सकलम्: everything; the whole (thing)
• सकलम्: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (implicit: जगत्/कुलम्/सर्वम्)

• पावनम्: purified; purifying
• पावनम्: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (सकलम्)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Gaṅgā’s purifying descent and presence at Kāśī is traditionally linked with Śiva as Viśvanātha; the verse uses Gaṅgā-bathing as the benchmark of purification, then elevates darśana of a pativratā as equally sanctifying.

Significance: Purification through Gaṅgā-snāna and darśana; in Kāśī, Śiva’s grace is held to be immediate (āśu-anugraha) and liberation-oriented.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It elevates dharmic steadfastness (pativratā-dharma) as a living purifier—like the Gaṅgā—teaching that inner purity arises not only from sacred waters but also from contact with embodied virtue and devotion.

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

In Shaiva practice, external purifications (snāna, tīrtha) support inner fitness for worship; the verse parallels this by saying that beholding steadfast devotion purifies the devotee, making one more qualified for Saguna Shiva worship, including Linga-pūjā performed with śuddhi (purity) and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt śuddhi-oriented conduct alongside worship: begin Linga-pūjā with bathing and mental purification, cultivate dharmic vows (vrata), and do japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with reverence for exemplars of devotion who inspire inner cleansing.