Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

यतिः प्रयत्नतः कुर्य्यात्क्षौरस्नानं च शुद्धये । संस्मरन्मनसा शुद्धं परं ब्रह्म सदाशिवम्

Transliteration

yatiḥ prayatnataḥ kuryyātkṣaurasnānaṃ ca śuddhaye | saṃsmaranmanasā śuddhaṃ paraṃ brahma sadāśivam

Translation

A renunciant should diligently perform shaving and ritual bathing for purification, while inwardly remembering with a purified mind Sadāśiva—the Supreme Brahman, ever pure.

Word by Word

• यतिः: the ascetic
• यतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort, diligently
• प्रयत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial, “from/with effort”)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• क्षौरस्नानम्: the shaving-bath (ritual bath after shaving)
• क्षौरस्नानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षौरस्य स्नानम्)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुद्धये: for purification
• शुद्धये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Beneficiary; purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• संस्मरन्: remembering
• संस्मरन्: कर्ता (Karta; participial agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (concomitant action)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘ब्रह्म’)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘ब्रह्म’)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: कर्म (Karma/Object of remembering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सदाशिवम्: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to ‘ब्रह्म’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सदा शिवः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa teachings to the sages, conveying Shaiva discipline and inner remembrance)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Sadāśiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purification (cleanliness through shaving and bathing) should be paired with inner purification—steady mental remembrance of Sadāśiva as the Supreme Reality—so the aspirant’s discipline becomes a means to liberation.

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

Ritual purity supports formal worship (including Linga-pūjā), but the verse emphasizes that the heart of worship is inner recollection of Sadāśiva—linking Saguna practice (ritual discipline) to Nirguna realization (Shiva as Supreme Brahman).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain bodily cleanliness as a sādhana and simultaneously practice manasika-smaraṇa (mental remembrance) of Sadāśiva—ideally joined with Shiva-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to keep the mind purified.