Shloka 13

Devanagari script

अन्यां मृदम्भागयित्वा शिरसि द्वादश क्रमात् । आलिप्य मृदमास्यान्तनिमज्य च पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

anyāṃ mṛdambhāgayitvā śirasi dvādaśa kramāt | ālipya mṛdamāsyāntanimajya ca punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Then, taking another portion of the sacred clay, one should apply it upon the head in twelve successive placements; and after smearing it, one should repeatedly dip the clay to the end of the mouth (up to the lips) again and again—thus performing the prescribed Śaiva rite of purification.

Word by Word

• अन्याम्: another (portion)
• अन्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; adjective used substantively = 'another (portion)'

• मृदम्: clay/earth
• मृदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भागयित्वा: having divided
• भागयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; 'having divided/portioned'

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Saṅkhyā (संख्या; measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; here used adverbially = 'twelve (times/steps)'

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'in order/stepwise'

• आलिप्य: having smeared
• आलिप्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (आ-), क्त्वान्त (absolutive), परस्मैपदी; 'having smeared/applied'

• मृदम्: clay
• मृदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आस्य-अन्त-निमज्य: having dipped into the mouth (inside)
• आस्य-अन्त-निमज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (आस्यस्य अन्तः/आस्ये अन्ते); क्त्वान्त (absolutive) of √मज्ज् with prefix नि-; 'having dipped (it) into the inside of the mouth'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्ति-बोधक अव्यय (adverb)

• पुनः: again (repeatedly)
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्ति-बोधक अव्यय (adverb); repetition for emphasis

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Bhasma/mṛd-dhāraṇa marks Śaiva identity and supports purity and steadiness for mantra and pūjā; it is treated as a protective and sanctifying observance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, repeated ritual purity as a support for devotion—training the body and mind to become fit for Shiva-upasana, where outer cleanliness mirrors inner steadiness toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Such preparatory rites (using sacred earth/ash markings) are traditional preliminaries to approaching Saguna Shiva in Linga-worship—establishing reverence, purity, and ritual correctness before puja and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A prescribed application of sacred clay/ash in a twelvefold sequence on the head, with repeated dipping and reapplying—consistent with Shaiva purification practices associated with Tripundra/Bhasma observance.