Shloka 15

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

क्षालितांघ्रिर्द्विराचम्य भस्म सद्यादिम न्त्रतः । धारयेद्धि समादाय समुद्धूलनमार्गतः

Transliteration

kṣālitāṃghrirdvirācamya bhasma sadyādima ntrataḥ | dhārayeddhi samādāya samuddhūlanamārgataḥ

Translation

Having washed the feet and performed ācamana twice, one should then take the sacred ash (bhasma) and, with the “Sadyojāta” and the other mantras, apply it properly according to the prescribed method of smearing (samuddhūlana).

Word by Word

• क्षालित-अङ्घ्रिः: (one) whose feet are washed
• क्षालित-अङ्घ्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षालित (कृदन्त, √क्षल्) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षालिताः अङ्घ्रयः यस्य) — adjectival compound used as subject-qualifier

• द्विः: twice
• द्विः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चम् (धातु) उपसर्ग-आ + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘आचम्य’ = having sipped (water)

• भस्म: sacred ash
• भस्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• आदि-मन्त्रतः: with the initial mantra
• आदि-मन्त्रतः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन (5th/पञ्चमी) ‘-तः’ अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; तत्पुरुषः (आदिः मन्त्रः) + तसिल्/तः; ‘आदि-मन्त्रतः’ = by/with the initial mantra (as per mantra)

• धारयेत्: should hold/apply
• धारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — emphasis/assurance

• समादाय: having taken up
• समादाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) उपसर्ग-सम्-आ + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘समादाय’ = having taken/collected

• समुद्धूलन-मार्गतः: according to the smearing/dusting method
• समुद्धूलन-मार्गतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Hetu (क्रियाविशेषण/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समुद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक; √धूल्/√ध्वल्? ‘to shake off/dust’ + सम्-उद्) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन (5th/पञ्चमी) ‘-तः’ तसिल्; तत्पुरुषः (समुद्धूलनस्य मार्गः) + तसिल्; ‘...मार्गतः’ = according to the method/way of dusting/smudging

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship begins with purity (washing and ācamana) and culminates in sanctification through bhasma, a symbol of impermanence and the soul’s surrender to Pati (Shiva) beyond worldly bonds (pāśa).

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

Bhasma-dhāraṇa is a visible Shaiva mark of devotion used before Linga-pūjā; applying it with the Brahma-mantras aligns the worshipper’s body and speech with Saguna Shiva’s sacred presence while pointing inward to the nirguṇa truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform basic purification (wash feet, do ācamana twice), then apply vibhūti/bhasma using the Sadyojāta and the other Brahma-mantras, following the traditional smearing method (samuddhūlana) as part of daily Shaiva observance.