Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

अपकारिषु यो लोक उपकारं करोति वै । तेन पूतो भवाम्यत्र भगवद्वचनं त्विदम्

Transliteration

apakāriṣu yo loka upakāraṃ karoti vai | tena pūto bhavāmyatra bhagavadvacanaṃ tvidam

Translation

ผู้ใดก็ตาม แม้ในหมู่ผู้ที่ถูกผู้อื่นทำร้าย กลับให้ความช่วยเหลือเป็นการตอบแทน ด้วยความเมตตานั้นเขาย่อมบริสุทธิ์ ณ ที่นี้เอง นี่คือพระดำรัสของพระผู้เป็นเจ้า

Word by Word

• apakāriṣu: among wrongdoers/those who harm
• apakāriṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apakārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (यत्)

• lokaḥ: a person/people (here: a man)
• lokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• upakāram: help, benefit
• upakāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• karoti: does
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/assertion

• tena: by that / thereby
• tena: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• pūtaḥ: purified
• pūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pū (धातु) → pūta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavāmi: I become
• bhavāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• bhagavat-vacanam: the Lord’s statement
• bhagavat-vacanam: Karma/Predicate-noun (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भगवतः वचनम्)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Shaiva path values inner purification (śuddhi) through compassion—helping even those who have harmed you burns reactive karma and aligns the soul (paśu) toward Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).

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

Linga-worship is not only external ritual; it is fulfilled by embodying Shiva-like qualities—peace, benevolence, and non-retaliation. Such conduct becomes an offering to Saguna Shiva, making worship spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while consciously releasing resentment, then perform a simple act of service (upakāra) as a living vrata; this inner discipline functions like a purification rite alongside bhasma or rudrākṣa observances.