Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4
अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance
सरस्वतीं नदीं दृष्ट्वा मुनयो हृष्टमानसाः । समाप्य सत्रं प्रारब्धं चक्रुस्तत्रावगाहनम्
sarasvatīṃ nadīṃ dṛṣṭvā munayo hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | samāpya satraṃ prārabdhaṃ cakrustatrāvagāhanam
เมื่อเห็นแม่น้ำสรัสวตี เหล่าฤๅษีก็ปลาบปลื้มยินดี ครั้นเสร็จสิ้นสัตรพิธีที่เริ่มไว้แล้ว จึงลงอวคาหนะ คืออาบน้ำชำระตามพิธี ณ ที่นั้น
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Sages, delighted at Sarasvatī’s appearance, complete their satra and perform avagāhana; the tīrtha functions as a ritual seal to the sacrifice.
Significance: Ritual bathing after yajña signifies purification, completion (pūrṇatā), and readiness for further pilgrimage.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It presents sacred geography and discipline together: after completing a satra (extended yajna), the sages purify themselves through tirtha-snāna in Sarasvatī, showing that outer rites and inner cleanliness support steady progress toward Shiva-realization (Pati) and freedom from bonds (pāśa).
The verse frames proper preparation for Saguna Shiva worship: completing ordained rites and performing ritual bathing at a tīrtha are traditional preliminaries before approaching the Linga with mantra, offerings, and devotion—purifying body and mind for focused bhakti.
A clear takeaway is tīrtha-snāna (ritual immersion) after religious observances; practically, one may follow it with Shiva-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and calm meditation, treating purification as a support for concentrated worship.