Shloka 44

Devanagari script

कौपीनादीनि संत्यज्य पुनरन्यानि धारयेत् । भस्मनोद्धूलयेत्तस्य सर्वांगं विधिना ततः

Transliteration

kaupīnādīni saṃtyajya punaranyāni dhārayet | bhasmanoddhūlayettasya sarvāṃgaṃ vidhinā tataḥ

Translation

Setting aside the loincloth and the like, one should then don other, fresh garments. Thereafter, according to the prescribed rite, one should dust and anoint the entire body with sacred ash (bhasma).

Word by Word

• kaupīna-ādīni: loincloth etc.
• kaupīna-ādīni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaupīna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष-समास (ādi-प्रत्ययार्थ: ‘and the like’)

• saṃtyajya: having discarded
• saṃtyajya: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√tyaj (त्यज् धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having abandoned’

• punar: again
• punar: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• anyāni: other (garments)
• anyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• dhārayet: should wear/put on
• dhārayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धृ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• bhasmanā: with ash
• bhasmanā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• uddhūlayet: should dust/smear (by dusting)
• uddhūlayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√dhūl (धूल् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• tasya: of him/of that (person)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• sarva-aṅgam: the whole body
• sarva-aṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास (‘entire body’)

• vidhinā: according to rule/procedure
• vidhinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches ritual purity and Shaiva identity: changing into clean garments and applying bhasma signifies inner renunciation (vairāgya), remembrance of impermanence, and dedication to Pati (Shiva) as the liberating Lord.

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

Bhasma is a key Shaiva observance performed as preparation for Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—marking the body as offered to Shiva and aligning the devotee with prescribed Śaiva rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A preparatory observance: discard soiled clothing, wear fresh cloth, and smear/dust the body with bhasma according to vidhi (often alongside Tripuṇḍra and mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’).