Shloka 14

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

लिंगे कर्कोटमात्रं तु गुदे प्रसृतिरिष्यते । तत उत्थाय पद्धस्तशौचं गण्डूषमष्टकम्

Transliteration

liṃge karkoṭamātraṃ tu gude prasṛtiriṣyate | tata utthāya paddhastaśaucaṃ gaṇḍūṣamaṣṭakam

Translation

Zur Reinigung heißt es: Für das Geschlechtsorgan genügt das Maß einer Fingerspitze, für den After jedoch gilt das Maß einer ganzen Handfläche. Dann stehe man auf, wasche Füße und Hände und vollziehe acht Mundspülungen (gandūṣa) als Reinigungsritus.

Word by Word

• liṅge: in/at the liṅga (male organ)
• liṅge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• karkoṭa-mātram: only karkoṭa-measure (a small measure)
• karkoṭa-mātram: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karkoṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); samāsa: karkoṭa-mātra (तत्पुरुषः; ‘only the measure of a karkoṭa’)

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) expressing contrast/emphasis

• gude: in/at the anus
• gude: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prasṛtiḥ: a prasṛti-measure (a handful measure)
• prasṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iṣyate: is prescribed; is considered appropriate
• iṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: then; thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (काल/देश-अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence

• utthāya: having risen
• utthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था धातु) + ut- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), utthāya; ‘having risen’

• pādahasta-śaucam: washing/cleansing of feet and hands
• pādahasta-śaucam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); samāsa: pādahasta-śauca (तत्पुरुषः; ‘cleansing of feet and hands’)

• gaṇḍūṣam: mouth-rinsing; gargle
• gaṇḍūṣam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇḍūṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• aṣṭakam: eight (times); eightfold
• aṣṭakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); numeral-adjective meaning ‘eightfold/eight times’, qualifying gaṇḍūṣam

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed disciplines of Śiva-worship to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Codifies bodily purification measures as preparatory sādhana for liṅga-sevā; emphasizes that grace (anugraha) is approached through disciplined conduct that reduces pāśa (impurity/karma).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches śauca (purity) as a support for sādhana: disciplined bodily cleanliness steadies the mind, making one fit for mantra-japa and Linga-pūjā, aligning outer order with inner reverence to Pati (Śiva).

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

The Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara section emphasizes proper preparation for Saguna Śiva worship; purification practices like washing and mouth-rinsing are presented as prerequisites before approaching the Linga with offerings and the pañcākṣara spirit of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical śauca routine is prescribed: cleanse appropriately, wash hands and feet, and perform eightfold gandūṣa (mouth-rinsing) before beginning worship, japa, or other Shaiva observances.