Shloka 15

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

येन केन च पत्रेण काष्ठेन च जलाद्बहिः । कार्यं संत्यज्य तर्ज्जनीं दंतधावनमीरितम्

Transliteration

yena kena ca patreṇa kāṣṭhena ca jalādbahiḥ | kāryaṃ saṃtyajya tarjjanīṃ daṃtadhāvanamīritam

Translation

Zur Reinigung der Zähne ist vorgeschrieben, sich vom Wasserplatz nach draußen zu begeben und, alle anderen Tätigkeiten beiseitelegend, die Zähne mit einem geeigneten Blatt oder einem Stück Holz zu reiben; dabei ist der Zeigefinger (tarjanī) zu meiden.

Word by Word

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by which’

• kena: by any
• kena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative/indefinite pronoun, Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; with yena…kena = ‘by any (whatever)’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• patreṇa: with a leaf
• patreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with a leaf’

• kāṣṭhena: with wood
• kāṣṭhena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with a piece of wood’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• jalāt: from water
• jalāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘from water’

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Preverb-like indeclinable (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय) meaning ‘outside’

• kāryam: is to be done
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म/Object; predicative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; here as predicate/thing to be done: ‘(it is) to be done’

• saṃtyajya: having abandoned
• saṃtyajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having completely abandoned’

• tarjjanīm: the index finger
• tarjjanīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarjjanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘index finger’

• danta-dhāvanam: tooth-cleaning
• danta-dhāvanam: Karma (कर्म/Object; topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: dantānāṃ dhāvanaṃ (teeth-cleaning) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• īritam: is prescribed
• īritam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि कृदन्त/क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘is prescribed/declared’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed observances as taught in the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes śauca (ritual purity) as a prerequisite for Śiva-pūjā; purity disciplines the bound soul (paśu) to become fit for anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches śauca (purity) and disciplined conduct as a foundation for Shiva-bhakti—outer cleanliness supports inner steadiness, making the mind fit for mantra and worship.

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

Linga-worship in the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā is preceded by proper daily observances; this rule emphasizes preparing oneself with cleanliness and restraint before approaching Saguna Shiva through ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical morning observance: brush teeth with a leaf/twig away from the water source and avoid using the index finger—then proceed toward bath, mantra (like the Pañcākṣarī), and Shiva-pūjā.