Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

पुनरेकाम्पादयोश्च मुखे चान्यां करे क्रमात् । संलिप्याक्षाल्य चाम्भोभिः पुनश्च जलमाविशेत्

Transliteration

punarekāmpādayośca mukhe cānyāṃ kare kramāt | saṃlipyākṣālya cāmbhobhiḥ punaśca jalamāviśet

Translation

Erneut soll man der rechten Ordnung gemäß Wasser an einen Fuß und dann an den anderen, an den Mund sowie an die übrigen Körperteile und an die Hände bringen. Nachdem man so berührt und mit Wasser gereinigt hat, soll man abermals Wasser schlürfen (Ācamana) und so in den Zustand ritueller Reinheit zurückkehren, der für die Verehrung Śivas geeignet ist.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एकाम्: one (female/one handful etc., context-dependent)
• एकाम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• पादयोः: of/in the two feet
• पादयोः: अधिकरण/सम्बन्ध (location/possession)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (genitive/locative), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मुखे: in/on the mouth/face
• मुखे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अन्याम्: another
• अन्याम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• करे: in/on the hand
• करे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• क्रमात्: in order, successively
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (ablative used adverbially)

• संलिप्य: having smeared/applied
• संलिप्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + लिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; 'having smeared/applied'

• आक्षाल्य: having washed
• आक्षाल्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; 'having washed/rinsed'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अम्भोभिः: with waters
• अम्भोभिः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आविशेत्: should enter/immerse (into)
• आविशेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes adhikāra (fitness) for Śiva-pūjā through śauca; purity is treated as a prerequisite for fruitful darśana and mantra-japa.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches śauca (purificatory discipline): by orderly cleansing with water, the devotee aligns body and mind for Śiva-upāsanā, expressing reverence and inner readiness—an outer act supporting inward purity.

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

Linga worship emphasizes careful preparation; ācamana and washing are preliminary rites that make the worshipper fit to approach Saguna Śiva in the form of the Linga, ensuring the pūjā begins from a state of ritual and mental composure.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates ācamana and bodily purification—touching and washing prescribed limbs with water in sequence, then sipping water again—before commencing japa, dhyāna, or Linga pūjā.