Shloka 1

Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)

Devanagari script

सुब्रह्मण्य उवाच । क्षौरस्नानविधिं वक्ष्ये वामदेव महामुने । यस्य सद्यो विधानेन शुद्धिस्स्याद्यतिनः परा

Transliteration

subrahmaṇya uvāca | kṣaurasnānavidhiṃ vakṣye vāmadeva mahāmune | yasya sadyo vidhānena śuddhissyādyatinaḥ parā

Translation

Subrahmaṇya said: “O great sage Vāmadeva, I shall explain the procedure for the rite of shaving and the purificatory bath. By performing it according to the prescribed rule, the ascetic attains immediate and supreme purity.”

Word by Word

• subrahmaṇyaḥ: Subrahmaṇya
• subrahmaṇyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: subrahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• kṣaura-snāna-vidhim: the rule/procedure of the shaving-bath
• kṣaura-snāna-vidhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaura (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्षौरस्नानस्य विधिः)

• vakṣye: I will explain
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्, धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• vāmadeva: O Vāmadeva
• vāmadeva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmadeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahā-mune: O great sage
• mahā-mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् मुनिः)

• yasya: whose/of which
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (of which/whose)

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (immediately)

• vidhānena: by the prescribed performance
• vidhānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (by means of the performance/arrangement)

• śuddhiḥ: purification
• śuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• syāt: would be/should occur
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्, धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• yatinaḥ: of the ascetic
• yatinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• parā: supreme
• parā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying śuddhiḥ)

Speaker

Subrahmaṇya (Kārtikeya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes immediate purification through correct observance—supporting the Siddhānta view that disciplined kriyā (right action) prepares the paśu for Śiva-jñāna and anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya
• Vamadeva

FAQs

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

This verse frames outer purification (shaving and ritual bath) as a support for inner Shaiva purity—disciplining the body and senses so the yati becomes fit for Shiva-oriented sādhana and higher clarity of consciousness.

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

In Shaiva practice, bodily and ritual cleanliness prepares the devotee/ascetic to approach Saguna Shiva in worship (including Linga-pūjā) with proper adhikāra, while ultimately aiming at inner purity that leads toward realization of Shiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates a prescribed kṣaura-snāna (shaving with a purificatory bath) as an immediate purification for ascetics; as a takeaway, it supports disciplined observance before mantra-japa and formal Shiva worship.