Shloka 70

Devanagari script

प्रक्षालितांघ्रिराचम्य पिण्डस्थानं व्रजेत्ततः । आसीनः प्राङ्मुखो मौनी प्राणायामत्रयं चरेत्

Transliteration

prakṣālitāṃghrirācamya piṇḍasthānaṃ vrajettataḥ | āsīnaḥ prāṅmukho maunī prāṇāyāmatrayaṃ caret

Translation

Having washed the feet and performed ācāmana, one should then go to the appointed place for the piṇḍa-offering. Seated there, facing east, observing silence, one should practice the threefold prāṇāyāma.

Word by Word

• प्रक्षालित-अङ्घ्रिः: one whose feet are washed
• प्रक्षालित-अङ्घ्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रक्षालित (कृदन्त, √क्षल्) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रक्षालिताः अङ्घ्रयः यस्य)

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having sipped (water) for purification’

• पिण्ड-स्थानम्: the place for the piṇḍa (offering)
• पिण्ड-स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पिण्डस्य स्थानम्)

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (देश/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आसीनः: seated
• आसीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) प्रयुक्तः विशेषणवत्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राङ्-मुखः: facing east
• प्राङ्-मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राङ् (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (प्राङ् एव मुखः)

• मौनी: a silent one (observing silence)
• मौनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मौन’ व्रतधारी

• प्राणायाम-त्रयम्: three (rounds of) prāṇāyāma
• प्राणायाम-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणायामानां त्रयम्)

• चरेत्: should perform/practise
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Shows disciplined preparation (śuddhi, mauna, prāṇāyāma) before piṇḍa-related rite; in Siddhānta, such discipline steadies the paśu for receptivity to grace and correct ritual efficacy.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purity (washing, ācamana) must be joined with inner purity (silence and prāṇāyāma). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such discipline steadies the mind so the soul (paśu) loosens the bonds (pāśa) and becomes fit for the grace of Shiva (Pati).

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

These preparatory acts are part of the upacāra-spirit of Saguna Shiva worship: one approaches the Linga after cleansing, settling the breath, and quieting speech, so the subsequent mantra-japa and offerings are performed with one-pointed devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ācamana, sit facing east in silence, and do prāṇāyāma-traya (pūraka–kumbhaka–recaka) before proceeding with the intended rite; this supports mantra focus such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) when applicable.