Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 40
गौतमस्य शिवदर्शनं पापक्षयवचनं च | Gautama’s Vision of Śiva and the Teaching on Sin and Purification
देवा ऊचुः । यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश प्रसन्ना त्वं सरिद्वरे । स्थातव्यमत्र कृपया नः प्रियार्थं तथा नृणाम्
devā ūcuḥ | yadi prasanno deveśa prasannā tvaṃ saridvare | sthātavyamatra kṛpayā naḥ priyārthaṃ tathā nṛṇām
Chư Thiên thưa: “Ôi Đấng Chúa tể của chư thần, nếu Ngài thật sự hoan hỷ—và nếu Ngài cũng đoái thương nơi dòng sông tối thắng này—xin vì lòng từ bi hãy lưu trú tại đây, để thành tựu điều chúng con yêu kính và cũng vì phúc lợi của loài người.”
The Devas (gods)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The devas petition Śiva to ‘remain here’ at the best of rivers for their desired end and for human welfare—an archetypal seed of sthāna-māhātmya where divine presence becomes localized for pilgrims.
Significance: Establishes the logic of pilgrimage: Śiva’s abiding presence at a tīrtha benefits devas and humans alike, granting protection and spiritual uplift.
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva’s anugraha (compassionate grace): when the Lord is pleased, He may choose to remain manifest at a sacred place (tirtha) for the benefit of both devas and humans, making divine proximity accessible through devotion.
The request that Shiva “remain here” aligns with Saguna Shiva worship—Shiva allowing His presence to be approached in a localized, worshipable form, which in Kotirudrasaṃhitā commonly culminates in linga/tirtha-centered devotion associated with Jyotirlinga sanctity.
A practical takeaway is tirtha-centered Shiva bhakti: worship Shiva at holy river-sites with linga-puja, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and prayer for grace—especially on Mahāśivarātri or during pilgrimage.