Shloka 20

अध्याय 66: इक्ष्वाकुवंश-ऐलवंशप्रवाहः (त्रिशङ्कु-राम-ययात्यादि-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

येन भागीरथी गङ्गा तपः कृत्वावतारिता भगीरथसुतश्चापि श्रुतो नाम बभूव ह

Transliteration

yena bhāgīrathī gaṅgā tapaḥ kṛtvāvatāritā bhagīrathasutaścāpi śruto nāma babhūva ha

Translation

Nhờ khổ hạnh tapas nghiêm mật của ngài mà dòng Bhāgīrathī Gaṅgā được thỉnh xuống cõi đời. Và con trai của Bhagiratha cũng nổi danh với tên Śruta.

Word by Word

• येन (yena): by whom

• भागीरथी (bhāgīrathī): the river Gaṅgā connected with Bhagiratha

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): Gaṅgā

• तपः (tapaḥ): austerity, ascetic heat

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having performed

• अवतारिता (avatāritā): caused to descend, brought down

• भगीरथसुतः (bhagīratha-sutaḥ): Bhagiratha’s son

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): also

• श्रुतः (śrutaḥ): Śruta (name), “the renowned/heard-of”

• नाम (nāma): by name

• बभूव (babhūva): became

• ह (ha): indeed (emphatic particle).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagiratha
• Ganga
• Shruta

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It links tapas (disciplined austerity) with sacred descent and purification: the devotee’s inner heat and restraint prepare the field for Shiva’s grace, just as Gaṅgā’s descent sanctifies the world—supporting the purificatory intent behind linga-pūjā and abhiṣeka.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Though Shiva is not named directly, the verse implies the Shaiva principle that divine transformation occurs through tapas culminating in anugraha (grace): Pati responds to the striving of the pashu by loosening pāśa (bondage) and allowing a ‘descent’ of purity and power into embodied life.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas—sustained austerity and disciplined practice (a Pāśupata-aligned emphasis on purification and self-restraint)—is highlighted as the means by which great sacred results manifest in the world.