Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

स्वकक्षयोः समालिप्य व्यत्यस्ताभ्यामथान्यया । पाणिभ्याञ्च मृदा शिष्यस्सुमतिर्दृढमानसः

Transliteration

svakakṣayoḥ samālipya vyatyastābhyāmathānyayā | pāṇibhyāñca mṛdā śiṣyassumatirdṛḍhamānasaḥ

Translation

Then the disciple Sumati, firm in resolve, smeared sacred earth (mṛdā, purifying clay/ash) upon his own armpits, using his two hands crossed one over the other, and with the other hand as well—applying the purifying mud with reverence as part of the Śaiva observance.

Word by Word

• स्व: one's own
• स्व: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; ‘own’ (qualifies कक्षयोः)

• कक्षयोः: of the two armpits
• कक्षयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘of the two armpits/sides’

• समालिप्य: having smeared thoroughly
• समालिप्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-लिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having smeared well’

• व्यत्यस्ताभ्याम्: with the two crossed (hands)
• व्यत्यस्ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ati-as (धातु) + kta → vyatyasta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं? (instrumental dual form used adjectivally), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; विशेषण (with ‘two (hands)’ understood)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम (then)

• अन्यया: with the other (one)
• अन्यया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (with ‘hand’ implied: ‘with the other’)

• पाणिभ्याम्: with (both) hands
• पाणिभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• मृदा: with clay/earth
• मृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिष्यः: the disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुमतिः: Sumati
• सुमतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• दृढमानसः: firm-minded
• दृढमानसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दृढं मानसं यस्य/दृढमानसः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita account to the sages)

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 highlights disciplined Shaiva conduct: the devotee steadies the mind and purifies the body by applying sacred earth/ashes, symbolizing detachment from impurity and remembrance that all forms return to Shiva’s auspicious reality.

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

Such bodily purification supports Saguna Shiva worship by preparing the devotee for Linga-puja—external cleanliness and inner steadiness harmonize, making the worship a fitting offering to Pati (Shiva), the Lord of all.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A purification rite using mṛdā/bhasma (sacred ash or sanctified clay) applied with mindful posture and resolve—typically paired with Shaiva japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a calm, focused mind.