Shloka 23

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

शिवलोकप्रदमिति शिवेनोक्तं तथा पुरा । यमुनाशोणयोः स्नायाद्गुरौ कन्यागते रवौ

Transliteration

śivalokapradamiti śivenoktaṃ tathā purā | yamunāśoṇayoḥ snāyādgurau kanyāgate ravau

Translation

Vì thế, thuở xưa chính Đức Śiva đã nói rằng điều ấy ban cho cõi của Ngài, Śiva-loka. Nên tắm tại nơi hợp lưu của sông Yamunā và Śoṇa khi sao Mộc ở cung Xử Nữ và Mặt Trời cũng đã vào Xử Nữ—hành trì được ca ngợi là đưa linh hồn hướng về thánh cảnh của Śiva.

Word by Word

• शिव-लोक-प्रदम्: granting Śiva’s world
• शिव-लोक-प्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (√दा धातु, दान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य लोकः तं प्रददाति)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन (instrumental)

• उक्तम्: said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• यमुनाशोणयोः: in the Yamunā and the Śoṇa (rivers)
• यमुनाशोणयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक) + शोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (यमुना) + पुंलिङ्ग (शोण), द्वन्द्वसमासः; षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6/7), द्विवचन (dual) — 'of/in Yamunā and Śoṇa'

• स्नायात्: one should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गुरौ: when Jupiter (Guru) is (so placed)
• गुरौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; ज्योतिषार्थे ‘बृहस्पतौ’ (Jupiter)

• कन्या-गते: when (it) has entered Virgo
• कन्या-गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (√गम् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past participle) ‘गत’; सप्तमी (7), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः) — ‘in Virgo-entered’

• रवौ: when the Sun (Ravi) is (there)
• रवौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; ज्योतिषार्थे ‘सूर्ये’ (Sun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva’s earlier statement to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva’s prior declaration is invoked as pramāṇa (authoritative testimony) that the specified tīrtha-bath yields Śivaloka; the verse then prescribes a Virgo (Kanyā) configuration for bathing at the Yamunā–Śoṇa meeting, embedding tīrtha within jyotiṣa-kāla.

Significance: Time-qualified sangama-snānā is praised as leading toward Śivaloka; in Siddhānta, this is a grace-supported purification that can mature the paśu toward Śiva-oriented liberation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Astrological yoga: Guru in Kanyā (Virgo) and Ravi entering Kanyā (solar ingress) as an auspicious conjunction for snāna.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Yamuna
• Shona
• Guru (Jupiter)
• Ravi (Sun)

FAQs

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

The verse extols a specific tīrtha-snāna (sacred bath) performed at an astrologically auspicious time as a Śiva-oriented purifier that supports liberation—culminating in attainment of Śivaloka through Śiva’s grace and accumulated merit turned toward devotion.

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

In the Shiva Purana, tīrtha practices are not isolated acts; they are meant to be performed with remembrance of Saguna Śiva—often alongside Liṅga-darśana, mantra-japa, and offering—so the external rite becomes inward devotion directed to the Lord who grants Śivaloka.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests tīrtha-snāna at the Yamunā–Śoṇa confluence when Guru and Ravi are in Kanyā, ideally accompanied by Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance), Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and simple Śiva offerings after bathing.