Shloka 53

गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्

Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship

Devanagari script

अथवा त्वं समानीय गंगास्नानं समाचर । पार्थिवानां तथा कोटिं कृत्वा देवं निषेवय

Transliteration

athavā tvaṃ samānīya gaṃgāsnānaṃ samācara | pārthivānāṃ tathā koṭiṃ kṛtvā devaṃ niṣevaya

Translation

یا پھر تم گنگا جل لا کر گنگا اسنان کرو؛ اور مٹی کے (پارتھِو) ایک کروڑ لِنگ بنا کر دیو شِو کی پوجا اور سیوا کرو۔

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• समानीय: having brought
• समानीय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + नी (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) from √नी; ‘having brought/collected’

• गङ्गा-स्नानम्: bath in the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा-स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायाः स्नानम्)

• समाचर: perform
• समाचर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पार्थिवानाम्: of earthen liṅgas (pārthivas)
• पार्थिवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘also/likewise’

• कोटिम्: a crore (ten million)
• कोटिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; परिमाण/संख्या

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• देवम्: the God (Śiva)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• निषेवय: worship/serve
• निषेवय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudrasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse prescribes purification and merit through Gaṅgā-snāna and the Pārthiva-liṅga rite (clay liṅga-making). It functions as a general Śaiva expiatory/pilgrimage injunction rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga-māhātmya episode.

Significance: Gaṅgā-water bath and intensive Pārthiva-liṅga worship are presented as powerful means of pāpa-kṣaya and eligibility for Śiva’s grace (anugraha), aligning with Siddhānta’s stress on śuddhi (purification) as a prerequisite for higher realization.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga
• Linga

FAQs

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

The verse teaches prāyaścitta and upliftment through sacred purification (Gaṅgā-snāna) and intense devotion (Parthiva-liṅga worship), directing the seeker toward Śiva’s grace as the liberating Pati.

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

By prescribing the making of earthen liṅgas and worshipping the Deva, it emphasizes Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Śiva in an accessible form (liṅga) to cultivate bhakti and receive anugraha (divine grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests Gaṅgā-snāna (or bathing with Gaṅgā-water) and Parthiva-liṅga pūjā—creating many clay liṅgas and worshipping Śiva, typically supported by mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offerings.