Shloka 16

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

तुंगभद्रा दशमुखा ब्रह्मलोकप्रदायिनी । सुवर्णमुखरी पुण्या प्रोक्ता नवमुखा तथा

Transliteration

tuṃgabhadrā daśamukhā brahmalokapradāyinī | suvarṇamukharī puṇyā proktā navamukhā tathā

Translation

تُنگبھدرا کو ‘دَش مُخی’ کہا گیا ہے، جو برہملوک کی حصولیابی عطا کرتی ہے۔ اور پاکیزہ سووَرْن مُکھری بھی اسی طرح ‘نَو مُخی’ کے نام سے مشہور ہے۔

Word by Word

• तुंगभद्रा: Tuṅgabhadrā (river)
• तुंगभद्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुंगभद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; river-name

• दश-मुखा: ten-mouthed/faced
• दश-मुखा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; dvigu 'having ten mouths/faces'

• ब्रह्म-लोक-प्रदायिनी: bestower of Brahmā’s world
• ब्रह्म-लोक-प्रदायिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + लोक + प्रदायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'giver of Brahma-loka'

• सुवर्ण-मुखरी: Suvarṇamukharī (river)
• सुवर्ण-मुखरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण + मुखरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; river-name/epithet; karmadhāraya 'golden-mouthed/with golden sound'

• पुण्या: holy
• पुण्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with सुवर्णमुखरी

• प्रोक्ता: is said; is called
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वच् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नव-मुखा: nine-mouthed/faced
• नव-मुखा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; dvigu 'having nine mouths/faces'

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb/particle (निपात) meaning 'thus/also'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse assigns loka-phalas to rivers: Tuṅgabhadrā grants Brahmaloka; Suvarṇamukharī is praised with a distinctive ‘nine-mouthed’ epithet. In Siddhānta, Brahmaloka is still within māyā’s cosmic order (sthiti), not final mukti.

Significance: Tīrtha-sevā yields exalted but finite cosmic stations (Brahmaloka). The teaching implicitly ranks fruits and encourages discernment: higher loka ≠ liberation without Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It praises specific tīrthas (holy rivers) as merit-bestowing, teaching that sacred geography supports inner purification and dharmic upliftment, culminating in higher attainments such as Brahmaloka.

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

In the Shiva Purana, tīrtha-bathing and pilgrimage are typically auxiliaries to Saguna Shiva worship—preparatory acts that purify the devotee so Linga-pūjā, mantra, and vrata bear steadier fruit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snāna (holy bathing) with remembrance of Shiva and recitation of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dedicating the merit for spiritual ascent and liberation-oriented devotion.