Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 21

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मलोकप्रदं विद्यात्ततः पूजादिकं तथा । सिंधुनद्यां तथा स्नानं सिंहे कर्कटगे रवौ

Transliteration

brahmalokapradaṃ vidyāttataḥ pūjādikaṃ tathā | siṃdhunadyāṃ tathā snānaṃ siṃhe karkaṭage ravau

Translation

Alamin na ang gayong pagsamba at ang mga kasunod na ritwal ay nagkakaloob ng pag-abot sa daigdig ni Brahmā. Gayundin, ang pagligo sa Ilog Sindhu kapag ang Araw ay nasa Leo at (ang Buwan) ay nasa Cancer ay ipinahahayag na lubhang mapagpala at may dakilang bisa.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मलोकप्रदम्: (as) granting Brahmā’s world
• ब्रह्मलोकप्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + लोक + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मलोकं प्रददाति’

• विद्यात्: should know/understand
• विद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय)

• पूजादिकम्: worship and the like
• पूजादिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘पूजा-आदि’ = worship etc.

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय)

• सिन्धुनद्याम्: in the Sindhu river
• सिन्धुनद्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सिन्धोः नदी’

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); here as item to be done (object implied)

• सिंहे: when (the Sun) is in Leo
• सिंहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); zodiac sign Leo

• कर्कटगे: when (the Sun) is in Cancer
• कर्कटगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्कट + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘कर्कटे गतः’ (when [Sun] is in Cancer)

• रवौ: when the Sun (is ...)
• रवौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Merit is graded: pūjā and attendant rites yield Brahmaloka; additionally, a specific astrological configuration sanctifies snāna in the Sindhu, reflecting tīrtha-māhātmya tied to kāla (auspicious time).

Significance: Promises elevated loka-attainment (Brahmaloka) through worship and time-qualified river-bathing; in Siddhānta, such fruits are higher karmic results but still distinct from final pāśa-release without Śiva’s liberating grace.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Astrological yoga: Sun in Siṃha (Leo) with Moon in Karkaṭa (Cancer) indicated as a merit-amplifying conjunction.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmaloka
• Sindhu (River)
• Surya (Ravi)

FAQs

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

The verse links disciplined worship (pūjā and allied rites) and tīrtha-snāna to tangible spiritual fruits, describing ascent to higher realms (Brahmaloka) as a consequence of merit—while implying that devotion and right observance refine the soul (paśu) toward the Lord’s grace (Pati-anugraha).

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

In the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara context, “pūjādika” points to Saguna upāsanā—ritual worship of Śiva (commonly via the Liṅga) supported by purificatory acts like sacred bathing. Such external observances are treated as aids that steady bhakti and prepare the worshipper for deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-pūjā along with its supporting rites, and undertake tīrtha-snāna in the Sindhu at an astrologically auspicious time (Sun in Leo; Moon in Cancer). As a Shaiva takeaway, pair the rite with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") for inner focus.