Shloka 16

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

नदीषु च यथा गंगा शोणः सर्वनदेषु च । क्षमायां च यथा पृथ्वी गांभीर्ये च यथोदधिः

Transliteration

nadīṣu ca yathā gaṃgā śoṇaḥ sarvanadeṣu ca | kṣamāyāṃ ca yathā pṛthvī gāṃbhīrye ca yathodadhiḥ

Translation

Như sông Gaṅgā đứng đầu các dòng sông, và Śoṇa nổi bật giữa mọi dòng chảy; như Đất là khuôn mẫu của nhẫn nhục, và biển cả là khuôn mẫu của thẳm sâu—cũng vậy, người sùng kính Śiva nên tu dưỡng những đức tính tối thượng ấy trên đạo lộ.

Word by Word

• nadīṣu: among rivers
• nadīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative adverb ‘as/just as’

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• śoṇaḥ: Śoṇa (river)
• śoṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• sarvanadeṣu: among all rivers
• sarvanadeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti, Bahuvacana; Karmadhāraya: sarvāḥ nadyaḥ = ‘all rivers’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• kṣamāyām: in/among forbearance
• kṣamāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative adverb

• pṛthvī: the Earth
• pṛthvī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• gāṃbhīrye: in depth/gravitas
• gāṃbhīrye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāṃbhīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (neuter), Saptamī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative adverb

• udadhiḥ: the ocean
• udadhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse uses Gaṅgā/ocean as ethical exemplars rather than narrating a specific liṅga-sthala; it implicitly evokes Śiva’s Gaṅgādhara motif and the purificatory paradigm of tīrtha as inner transformation.

Significance: Frames tīrtha-symbols (Gaṅgā, ocean) as inner virtues (kṣamā, gāmbhīrya) required for Śiva-bhakti; pilgrimage is re-read as cultivation of steadiness and forgiveness.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that a Śiva-bhakta should embody archetypal virtues—purity and supremacy like Gaṅgā, steady excellence like Śoṇa, forbearance like Earth, and profound steadiness like the ocean—so the mind becomes fit for Śiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Liṅga-worship is not only external ritual; it is inner formation. By practicing kṣamā (forgiveness) and gāṃbhīrya (depth), the devotee stabilizes consciousness, making pūjā, japa, and dhyāna of Saguna Śiva more one-pointed and transformative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily Pañcākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of kṣamā (consciously forgiving) and gāṃbhīrya (silent, steady meditation), optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva-centered discipline.