Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

अंतर्जलशिलारूढैर्नीचानां स्पर्शशंकया । आचारवद्भिर्मुनिभिः कृतभस्मांगधूसरैः

Transliteration

aṃtarjalaśilārūḍhairnīcānāṃ sparśaśaṃkayā | ācāravadbhirmunibhiḥ kṛtabhasmāṃgadhūsaraiḥ

Translation

Aus Furcht vor Berührung mit Unreinem saßen die disziplinierten Weisen—deren Körper durch aufgetragene heilige Bhasma grau geworden waren—auf Steinen im Wasser und bewahrten die rechte Lebensführung.

Word by Word

• अन्तर्जलशिलारूढैः: by those mounted on stones within the water
• अन्तर्जलशिलारूढैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तः + जल + शिला + रूढ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समास-विग्रहः: अन्तर्जले (loc.) शिलायाम् (loc.) रूढैः (mounted)

• नीचानाम्: of low people
• नीचानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• स्पर्शशङ्कया: due to fear of touch
• स्पर्शशङ्कया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (as cause)

• आचारवत्भिः: by the well-conducted
• आचारवत्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचारवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• कृतभस्माङ्गधूसरैः: by those grey with limbs smeared with ash
• कृतभस्माङ्गधूसरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + भस्म + अङ्ग + धूसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण; विग्रहः: कृतं भस्म (applied ash) येषाम् अङ्गेषु, तैः धूसरैः (grey)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Pashupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse depicts ritual purity and ascetic discipline in a tīrtha setting, preparing the adhikārin (qualified worshipper) for Śiva-upāsanā.

Significance: Emphasizes śuddhi (purificatory discipline) and bhasma-dhāraṇa as markers of Śaiva identity and readiness for grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Munis

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal of ācāra (right conduct) and inner discipline: the sages protect their sādhana by avoiding defiling influences, while Bhasma signifies dispassion, impermanence, and dedication to Lord Shiva (Pati) beyond worldly attachment.

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

Bhasma-dhāraṇa and regulated conduct are classic auxiliaries of Saguna Shiva worship, preparing the devotee for Linga-upāsanā by cultivating purity, restraint, and one-pointedness—supports for approaching Shiva with reverence and steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests Bhasma application (Tripuṇḍra/Bhasma-dhāraṇa) along with disciplined observance of purity and mindful avoidance of contaminating contacts—practices that stabilize japa and dhyāna, especially in Shaiva vrata contexts such as Mahāśivarātri.