Shloka 15

संन्यासाचारवर्णनम्

Description of the Conduct and Daily Discipline of Saṃnyāsa

Devanagari script

गुरुं संस्मृत्य मां चैव स्नानसंध्याद्यमाचरेत् । विस्तारभयतो नोक्तमत्र द्रष्टव्यमन्यतः

Transliteration

guruṃ saṃsmṛtya māṃ caiva snānasaṃdhyādyamācaret | vistārabhayato noktamatra draṣṭavyamanyataḥ

Translation

Remembering the Guru and also Me (Śiva), one should perform the daily disciplines such as ritual bathing and the Sandhyā worship. Out of fear of excessive elaboration, it has not been explained here in detail; it should be understood from other (scriptural) sources.

Word by Word

• guruṃ: the teacher (guru)
• guruṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saṃsmṛtya: having remembered
• saṃsmṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having remembered’

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात-अव्यय)

• snāna-saṃdhyā-ādi: bathing, sandhyā, etc. (rites)
• snāna-saṃdhyā-ādi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—द्वन्द्व (snānaṃ ca saṃdhyā ca, ādiḥ) used collectively

• ācāret: should perform/practise
• ācāret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• vistāra-bhayataḥ: from fear of prolixity
• vistāra-bhayataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistāra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (vistārasya bhayam) with ablatival sense ‘due to fear of…’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• uktam: said; stated
• uktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; impersonal passive sense ‘it is said’

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• draṣṭavyam: should be consulted/seen
• draṣṭavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; ‘should be seen/referred to’

• anyataḥ: from elsewhere
• anyataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) ‘from elsewhere/otherwise’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes nitya-karma (daily disciplines) as the foundation for Śiva-bhakti and eligibility for higher Śaiva rites; remembrance of Guru and Śiva is framed as a prerequisite for purity and receptivity to grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva practice begins with smaraṇa (remembrance) of the Guru and Śiva, and is supported by disciplined daily observances (nitya-karma). Such steadiness purifies the pashu (bound soul) and prepares it for Śiva-jñāna and grace.

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

By prescribing daily snāna and Sandhyā after remembering Śiva, it frames Saguna upāsanā as a regulated life of purity and devotion—within which Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and other Shaiva rites are properly grounded.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin the day by remembering the Guru and Śiva, then perform snāna and Sandhyā-vandana as daily discipline; the verse also implies consulting authoritative Shaiva scriptures or manuals for detailed procedure.