Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

ततस्साम्बं महेशानं शंकरं चन्द्रशेखरम् । संस्मरेद्भक्तितश्शिष्य सर्वेश्वर्यपतिं शिवम्

Transliteration

tatassāmbaṃ maheśānaṃ śaṃkaraṃ candraśekharam | saṃsmaredbhaktitaśśiṣya sarveśvaryapatiṃ śivam

Translation

Then, O disciple, one should devoutly remember Śiva—Sāmba, Maheśāna, Śaṅkara, the moon-crested Lord Candrasekhara—sovereign Master of all aiśvarya, divine powers and lordships.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्/adverb (thereafter)

• साम्बम्: Sāmba (Śiva with Umā)
• साम्बम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Śiva as 'with Umā')

• महेशानम्: Maheśāna
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्

• चन्द्रशेखरम्: Candraśekhara (moon-crested)
• चन्द्रशेखरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र+शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चन्द्रः शेखरः यस्य = moon-crested)

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (injunctive sense: should remember)

• भक्तितः: with devotion
• भक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (ablatival adverb: from/with devotion)

• शिष्य: O disciple
• शिष्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-एकवचनम् (vocative: O disciple)

• सर्वेश्वर्यपतिम्: lord of all sovereignty
• सर्वेश्वर्यपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व+ऐश्वर्य+पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य ऐश्वर्यस्य पतिः = lord of all sovereignty)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching a disciple in the Kailasa Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Smaraṇa (devout remembrance) of Śiva as Sarvaiśvaryapati is presented as a direct upāya for receiving His anugraha (saving grace), the inner ‘tīrtha’ that sanctifies all pilgrimages.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: साम्बं महेशानं शंकरं चन्द्रशेखरम् । संस्मरेद्भक्तितश्शिष्य सर्वेश्वर्यपतिं शिवम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Uma (implied by the epithet Sāmba)

FAQs

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

It presents bhakti-yukta smaraṇa (devotional remembrance) of Śiva as a direct spiritual discipline: recognizing Him as Maheśāna (Supreme Lord) and Pati (the liberating Master) aligns the soul (paśu) toward grace and release from bonds (pāśa).

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna contemplation through Śiva’s epithets—Sāmba and Candraśekhara—supporting focused devotion; such remembrance naturally complements Liṅga worship, where the devotee meditates on the same Pati-tattva embodied in the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is nāma-smaraṇa and dhyāna: sit, invoke Śiva as Sāmba–Maheśāna–Śaṅkara–Candraśekhara, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with devotion, treating remembrance itself as worship.