Shloka 32

Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)

Devanagari script

शौचं स्नानं तथा भिक्षां नित्यमेकान्तसेवनम् । भिक्षौश्चत्वारि कर्म्माणि पञ्चमं नैव विद्यते

Transliteration

śaucaṃ snānaṃ tathā bhikṣāṃ nityamekāntasevanam | bhikṣauścatvāri karmmāṇi pañcamaṃ naiva vidyate

Translation

الطهارة، والاغتسال، والعيش على الصدقات، وملازمة الخلوة دائمًا—هذه هي أعمال البِكشو (bhikṣu) الأربع. وأما البِكشو الحقّ فلا خامسَ عليه وراء ذلك.

Word by Word

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb)

• भिक्षाम्: alms/begging
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण; adverbial accusative ‘always’

• एकान्त-सेवनम्: practice of solitude
• एकान्त-सेवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (एकान्तस्य सेवनम् = ‘practice of solitude’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भिक्षोः: of a mendicant
• भिक्षोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• चत्वारि: four
• चत्वारि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• कर्माणि: acts/duties
• कर्माणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पञ्चमम्: a fifth (duty)
• पञ्चमम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘a fifth (one)’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘exists/is found’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teachings to the sages, conveying Shaiva discipline)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the minimalist Shaiva renunciate path: purification (śauca), bodily steadiness (snāna), non-possessiveness (bhikṣā), and inward absorption in solitude (ekānta). By limiting duties to these, the bhikṣu cuts worldly pasha (bondage) and turns the mind toward Pati (Shiva) as the sole refuge.

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

Ekānta-sevana supports one-pointed devotion to Saguna Shiva—often through Linga-upāsanā—because solitude and simplicity reduce distraction. Purity and bathing also align with the ritual readiness traditionally associated with approaching the Linga, while the spirit of the verse keeps worship free from display and accumulation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain śauca and snāna as daily disciplines, live simply on bhikṣā (non-hoarding), and practice ekānta—quiet japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and meditation on Shiva—making solitude the primary support for steadiness of mind.