Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

तत्रैकां मृदमादाय दापयित्वान्यपाणिना । करौ द्वादशधा लिप्य प्रत्येकं केन क्षालयेत्

Transliteration

tatraikāṃ mṛdamādāya dāpayitvānyapāṇinā | karau dvādaśadhā lipya pratyekaṃ kena kṣālayet

Translation

There, taking a single lump of purifying earth and placing it in the other hand, smear both hands in twelve divisions; then wash each part in proper order and cleanse them duly.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय), ‘there/then’

• ekām: one
• ekām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying mṛdam

• mṛdam: clay/earth
• mṛdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having taken’

• dāpayitvā: having made (someone) apply/give
• dāpayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: Causative absolutive (णिजन्त-क्त्वा), ‘having caused (someone) to give/apply’

• anya-pāṇinā: with the other hand
• anya-pāṇinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘other hand’); Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• karau: (both) hands
• karau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• dvādaśadhā: twelvefold
• dvādaśadhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvādaśadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘in twelve ways/twelvefold’

• lipya: having smeared
• lipya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √lip (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having smeared/anointed’

• pratyekam: each (separately)
• pratyekam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pratyeka (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as indeclinable sense, ‘each separately’

• kena: with what?/by which?
• kena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun; Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣālayet: should wash/cleanse
• kṣālayet: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣāl (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches śauca (ritual purity) as a foundation for Shiva-worship: disciplined cleansing of the body supports steadiness of mind, making devotion fit to approach Pati (Shiva) with reverence.

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

Before approaching the Shiva-linga (Saguna worship), the devotee purifies the hands—the primary instruments of offering—so the external rite mirrors inner purity and attentiveness in puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A prescribed hand-cleansing using purifying earth/clay, smearing in twelve parts and washing each in order—used as preparatory śauca before mantra-japa, offerings, and linga-puja.