Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

गुरुं नत्वा विशेषेण लब्धानुज्ञस्ततो गुरोः । शिरस्संक्षाल्य चाचम्य सवासाः क्षौरमाचरेत्

Transliteration

guruṃ natvā viśeṣeṇa labdhānujñastato guroḥ | śirassaṃkṣālya cācamya savāsāḥ kṣauramācaret

Translation

Having bowed with special reverence to the Guru and obtained his permission, one should wash the head and perform ācamana. Then, remaining clothed, one should undertake the kṣaura rite of shaving as a preparatory purification for Śiva-worship.

Word by Word

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नत्वा: having bowed (to)
• नत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having bowed’

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणार्थे ‘especially’

• लब्ध-अनुज्ञः: having obtained permission
• लब्ध-अनुज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘लब्ध’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) + ‘अनुज्ञ’ (permission) तत्पुरुष; अर्थः ‘having obtained permission’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संक्षाल्य: having washed
• संक्षाल्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having washed thoroughly’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having sipped (water for purification)’

• स-वासाः: clothed / wearing garments
• स-वासाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाव ‘with clothes on’ (clothed)

• क्षौरम्: shaving (rite)
• क्षौरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed observances as taught in the Kailāsasaṃhitā tradition)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-sādhana begins with humility toward the Guru and śauca (purity). In a Śaiva Siddhānta sense, right practice is safeguarded by the Guru’s anugraha (grace/authorization), which helps remove pāśa (bondage) through disciplined observance.

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

Linga-worship is approached through regulated preparation: cleansing, ācamana, and orderly conduct. These acts honor Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord of rites while aligning the devotee’s body-mind for focused pūjā and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It prescribes preparatory purification: bowing to the Guru, receiving permission, washing the head, performing ācamana, and then undertaking kṣaura (shaving/tonsure) while clothed—signaling disciplined readiness for subsequent Śiva-pūjā, japa, and observances.