Shloka 28

Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)

Devanagari script

कदाचित्तत्स्त्रियो दुष्टा जलार्थमपमानिताः । ऊचु पतिभ्यस्ताः क्रुद्धा गौतमेर्ष्याकरं वचः

Transliteration

kadācittatstriyo duṣṭā jalārthamapamānitāḥ | ūcu patibhyastāḥ kruddhā gautamerṣyākaraṃ vacaḥ

Translation

ఒకసారి జలార్థం వెళ్లి అవమానింపబడిన ఆ దుష్ట స్త్రీలు కోపంతో తమ భర్తలకు గౌతమునిపై ఈర్ష్యను రేపే మాటలు పలికిరి.

Word by Word

• kadācit: once, at some time
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): ‘at some time/once’

• tat: those
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative used correlatively with ‘striyaḥ’ (sense: ‘those’)

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• duṣṭāḥ: wicked
• duṣṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √duṣ ‘to be bad’/दुष्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying ‘striyaḥ’

• jala-artham: for water (to fetch water)
• jala-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/उद्देश्य-भाव): ‘for the purpose of water’

• apamānitāḥ: insulted
• apamānitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apa-mānita (कृदन्त; √mān ‘to honor’/मान्, causative with apa-)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally: ‘having been insulted’

• ūcuḥ: they said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada

• patibhyaḥ: to (their) husbands
• patibhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural; recipient/addressee

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; pronoun referring to the women

• kruddhāḥ: angry
• kruddhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √krudh ‘to be angry’/क्रुध्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying ‘tāḥ/striyaḥ’

• gautama-īrṣyā-karam: jealousy-provoking about Gautama
• gautama-īrṣyā-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gautama (प्रातिपदिक) + īrṣyā (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘(that which is) causing jealousy (īrṣyā) regarding Gautama’ qualifying ‘vacaḥ’

• vacaḥ: words, speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: The māhātmya turns from Gautama’s beneficence to the arising of envy and social conflict around access to sacred water—setting the stage for the events that further establish the tirtha’s and Jyotirliṅga’s sanctity.

Significance: Warning motif: approaching tirtha with jealousy/anger veils merit; right attitude (śraddhā, humility) is essential for receiving the Jyotirliṅga’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how humiliation can be converted into anger and slander, creating karmic bondage; Shaiva teaching emphasizes purifying speech and dissolving envy so the mind becomes fit for Shiva-bhakti and grace.

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

Linga-worship requires inner and outer purity; this scene shows the opposite—envy-driven speech—implying that sincere devotion to Saguna Shiva includes restraint, truthfulness, and non-malicious intent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with vigilance over speech, and adopt a simple vow of silence or truthful speech (satya) before puja—supporting mental purification alongside bhasma/rudraksha observances.