Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

सुवर्णवर्णमच्छिन्नं शुभं नान्यैर्धृतं शुभम् । विप्रादीनां क्रमाच्छ्रेष्ठं पीतं रक्तमथासितम्

Transliteration

suvarṇavarṇamacchinnaṃ śubhaṃ nānyairdhṛtaṃ śubham | viprādīnāṃ kramācchreṣṭhaṃ pītaṃ raktamathāsitam

Translation

Es soll von goldener Farbe sein, unversehrt und glückverheißend—ein heilsames Zeichen, das andere nicht tragen. Für den Brāhmaṇa und die übrigen Varṇas sind der Ordnung nach die besten Farben: Gelb, dann Rot und dann Schwarz.

Word by Word

• सुवर्णवर्णम्: gold-colored
• सुवर्णवर्णम्: कर्म/कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of the described item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुवर्णस्य वर्णः)

• अच्छिन्नम्: unbroken, uncut
• अच्छिन्नम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'च्छिन्न' (√छिद्) + नञ्/अ- (अच्छिन्न = uncut/unbroken)

• शुभम्: auspicious, pure
• शुभम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• धृतम्: worn/held
• धृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √धृ (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विप्रादीनाम्: of brāhmaṇas and others
• विप्रादीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विप्रः आदिः येषाम्)

• क्रमात्: in due order, sequentially
• क्रमात्: हेतु/रीति (Manner/according to order)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे 'क्रमात्' = 'in order/according to sequence' (idiomatic)

• श्रेष्ठम्: best, superior
• श्रेष्ठम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पीतम्: yellow
• पीतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'पीत' (√पा पाने/पिब्)

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'रक्त' (√रञ्ज् रागे)

• अथ: then, and
• अथ: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (then/and)

• असितम्: black, dark
• असितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

FAQs

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

The verse links outer auspicious signs with inner śuddhi (purity) and discipline: what is “unbroken” and “auspicious” symbolizes steadiness in devotion to Pati (Shiva) and the orderly refinement of the pashu (individual soul) toward grace.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, the Shiva Purana often prescribes visible observances that support reverence and right conduct. This verse indicates that the devotee’s auspicious external mark and its appropriate form/color help sustain a devotional identity oriented to the Linga and to Shiva’s dharmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain an auspicious, unbroken sacred mark/insignia as prescribed for one’s station, using the recommended color sequence (yellow/red/black). As a meditative takeaway, keep the mark “unbroken” as a reminder to keep japa and devotion uninterrupted.