Shloka 38

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

चारुदीपं प्रदर्श्याथ वाससा परिमृज्य च । नूतनं दोरकौपीनं वाससी परिधापयेत्

Transliteration

cārudīpaṃ pradarśyātha vāsasā parimṛjya ca | nūtanaṃ dorakaupīnaṃ vāsasī paridhāpayet

Translation

ثم يُظهر سراجًا مباركًا، ويمسح الجسد بقطعة قماش؛ وبعد ذلك يلبس ثيابًا جديدة—ومنها ثوب الكتف والكَوپينا (المئزر)—فيغدو أهلًا لعبادة الرب شيفا.

Word by Word

• चारु-दीपम्: a beautiful lamp
• चारु-दीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (चारुः दीपः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रदर्श्य: having shown
• प्रदर्श्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having shown’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तरार्थक/sequence particle)

• वाससा: with a cloth/garment
• वाससा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• परिमृज्य: having wiped/cleansed
• परिमृज्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√मृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having wiped/cleansed’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक)

• नूतनम्: new
• नूतनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नूतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वाससी)

• दोर-कौपीनम्: a loincloth with a cord (doraka)
• दोर-कौपीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर (प्रातिपदिक) + कौपीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दोरकं कौपीनम्/दोरकयुक्तं कौपीनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाससी: two garments/cloths
• वाससी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• परिधापयेत्: should clothe (him), should make (him) wear
• परिधापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√धा (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: should cause to be worn/should clothe)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed Shiva-worship procedure to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes external śauca and maṅgala-upacāra (dīpa, vastra) as prerequisites for approaching the liṅga—disciplining the bound soul (paśu) to become fit for grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that approaching Śiva requires śauca (purity) and reverence: external cleanliness—wiping the body and wearing fresh cloth—supports inner steadiness, making the devotee fit for focused bhakti and right intention toward Pati (Śiva).

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

In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, the devotee prepares the body and surroundings before offerings. The lamp (dīpa) is a standard upacāra that symbolizes illuminating consciousness before the Liṅga, while clean garments signify respectful readiness to serve Śiva’s manifest form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform preparatory purification (wipe/cleanse), present an auspicious lamp as part of pūjā, and wear fresh simple cloth (koupīna/dora) before beginning japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Liṅga-upacāras.