Shloka 23
Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya
Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification
पादे मूर्ध्नि हृदि चैव मूर्ध्नि हृत्पाद एव च । हृत्पादमूर्ध्नि संप्रोक्ष्य मंत्रस्नानं विदुर्बुधाः
pāde mūrdhni hṛdi caiva mūrdhni hṛtpāda eva ca | hṛtpādamūrdhni saṃprokṣya maṃtrasnānaṃ vidurbudhāḥ
পদযুগল, মস্তক ও হৃদয়ে এবং পুনরায় মস্তক, হৃদয় ও পদযুগলে পবিত্র জল ছিটিয়ে—এইভাবে হৃদয়, পদ ও শিরকে ক্রমে সংস্কার করলে—জ্ঞানীরা একে ‘মন্ত্র-স্নান’ বলেন; শিবোপাসনায় মন্ত্রদ্বারা অন্তঃশুদ্ধির এই বিধি।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Mantra-snāna functions as inner/outer readiness for darśana and pūjā; it is a practical ‘adhikāra-śuddhi’ that supports the soul’s approach to Pati.
Type: rudram
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines “mantra-snāna” as a sacred inner cleansing: by consecrating head (thought), heart (devotion), and feet (conduct), the devotee aligns body-mind with Shiva (Pati), loosening impurities (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu).
In Linga worship, purity is not only external; this sprinkling with mantra ritually prepares the worshipper to approach Saguna Shiva in the Linga with reverence, making the body a fit vessel for offering, japa, and abhiṣeka.
Perform mantra-snāna by sprinkling sanctified water while reciting Shiva-mantra (commonly the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), consecrating feet, head, and heart as a brief but complete purification before puja or japa.