Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

अलाबुं वेणुपात्रं च दारवम्मृण्मयन्तथा । भिक्षोश्चत्त्वारि पात्राणि पञ्चमन्नैव विद्यते

Transliteration

alābuṃ veṇupātraṃ ca dāravammṛṇmayantathā | bhikṣoścattvāri pātrāṇi pañcamannaiva vidyate

Translation

Für einen Bettelmönch, der dem śivaitischen Pfad ergeben ist, sind nur vier Almosenschalen erlaubt: aus Kürbis, aus Bambus, aus Holz und aus Ton; eine fünfte Art Gefäß wird nicht gebilligt.

Word by Word

• अलाबुम्: gourd (vessel)
• अलाबुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाबु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वेणु-पात्रम्: bamboo bowl
• वेणु-पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वेणोः पात्रम् = ‘bamboo vessel’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• दारवम्: wooden (vessel)
• दारवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective ‘wooden’ (elliptically ‘wooden (vessel)’)

• मृण्मयम्: earthen (vessel)
• मृण्मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘मय’ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective ‘earthen/clay-made’

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

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

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

• पात्राणि: vessels/bowls
• पात्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पञ्चमम्: a fifth (vessel)
• 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

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching the discipline of renunciation in Kailasa discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches aparigraha—minimizing possessions—so the pashu (individual soul) loosens pasha (bondage) and becomes fit for Shiva’s grace (Pati-anugraha). Limiting even the alms-bowl disciplines desire and supports steady yoga and japa.

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

Saguna Shiva worship in the Purana is not merely ritual; it is matched by inner purity and restraint. A renunciant who keeps only simple, permitted vessels embodies humility and steadiness, making Linga-puja, Panchakshara japa, and meditation more sattvic and focused.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined simplicity: keep minimal requisites, accept alms without greed, and devote the mind to Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and dhyana; such restraint supports the effective use of bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha as aids to recollection of Shiva.