Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

इत्यैव मुनिशार्द्दूल तव स्नेहान्मयाखिलः । क्षौरस्नानविधिः प्रोक्तः किम्भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

Transliteration

ityaiva muniśārddūla tava snehānmayākhilaḥ | kṣaurasnānavidhiḥ proktaḥ kimbhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Translation

Thus, O tiger among sages, out of affection for you I have explained in full the rite of shaving and ritual bathing. What more do you wish to hear?

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मुनिशार्द्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनिशार्द्दूल: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्द्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां शार्द्दूलः)

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• स्नेहात्: out of affection
• स्नेहात्: हेतु/अपादान (Hetu/Ablative cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अखिलः: entire, complete
• अखिलः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘विधिः’)

• क्षौरस्नानविधिः: the rule/procedure of the shaving-bath
• क्षौरस्नानविधिः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौरस्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षौरस्नानस्य विधिः)

• प्रोक्तः: has been stated
• प्रोक्तः: क्रिया-विशेषण (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेः विशेषण

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• भूयः: again, further
• भूयः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावे)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/further)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: कर्म (Object of ‘इच्छसि’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), श्रवणार्थे

• इच्छसि: you wish
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s compassionate guidance: outer purification (shaving and bathing) supports inner readiness for worship, devotion, and disciplined Shaiva practice.

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

By completing preparatory rites like snāna, the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva—often as the Linga—with greater ritual fitness, expressing reverence and steadiness of bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A preparatory purification regimen—kṣaura (shaving as prescribed) and snāna (ritual bath)—as a foundation before engaging in Shiva worship, japa, or other observances.