पवित्रीकर्तुं नः पशुपतिपराधीनहृदये दयामित्रैर्नेत्रैररुणधवलश्यामरुचिभिः। नदः शोणो गङ्गा तपनतनयेति ध्रुवममुं त्रयाणां तीर्थानामुपनयसि संभेदमनघम्॥
pavitrīkartuṁ naḥ paśupati-parādhīna-hṛdayē dayā-mitraiḥ nētrair aruṇa-dhavala-śyāma-rucibhiḥ। nadaḥ śōṇō gaṅgā tapana-tanayēti dhruvam amuṁ trayāṇāṁ tīrthānām upanayasi saṁbhēdam anagham॥
Translation
O Goddess, whose heart is devoted to Pashupati, with your compassionate eyes of red, white, and dark brilliance, you purify us, certainly bringing the pure confluence of the three sacred rivers—Shona, Ganga, and Yamuna.
Word by word
- pavitrīkartuṁ
- to purify
- naḥ
- us
- paśupati
- Lord of beings, Shiva
- parādhīna
- dependent, devoted
- hṛdayē
- in the heart
- dayā
- compassion
- mitraiḥ
- friendly
- nētraiḥ
- with eyes
- aruṇa
- red
- dhavala
- white
- śyāma
- dark
- rucibhiḥ
- with brilliance
- nadaḥ
- river
- śōṇaḥ
- Shona (Son)
- gaṅgā
- Ganga
- tapana-tanayā
- daughter of the sun, Yamuna
- iti
- thus
- dhruvam
- certainly
- amuṁ
- this
- trayāṇāṁ
- of three
- tīrthānām
- sacred rivers
- upanayasi
- you bring
- saṁbhēdam
- confluence
- anagham
- pure, sinless
Meaning
This verse likens the Goddess’s three eyes, radiant with red, white, and dark hues, to the sacred rivers Shona, Ganga, and Yamuna, whose confluence (triveṇī saṅgama) is purifying. Her compassionate gaze, described as friendly (dayā-mitraiḥ), purifies devotees, reflecting her heart’s devotion to Shiva (paśupati-parādhīna). In the Śrīvidyā tradition, her eyes symbolize divine grace, capable of cleansing sins, akin to the spiritual power of sacred rivers. The verse underscores her role as a compassionate mother who facilitates spiritual purification, aligning with the Shakta emphasis on devotion to her as the path to liberation.