Shloka 16

संन्यासाचारवर्णनम्

Description of the Conduct and Daily Discipline of Saṃnyāsa

Devanagari script

आबध्य शंखमुद्रां च प्रणवेनाभिषेचयेत् । शिरसि द्वादशावृत्त्या तदर्धं वा तदर्धकम्

Transliteration

ābadhya śaṃkhamudrāṃ ca praṇavenābhiṣecayet | śirasi dvādaśāvṛttyā tadardhaṃ vā tadardhakam

Translation

Having formed the conch-gesture (śaṅkha-mudrā), one should perform the consecratory sprinkling with the Praṇava (Oṁ). Upon the head, it is to be done with twelve repetitions—or with half of that, or half again, as permitted.

Word by Word

• ābadhya: having formed (by binding)
• ābadhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-bandh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having bound/formed’

• śaṅkha-mudrāṃ: the conch-gesture (śaṅkha-mudrā)
• śaṅkha-mudrāṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + mudrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (śaṅkhasya mudrā)

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

• praṇavena: with the Praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• abhiṣecayet: should sprinkle/anoint
• abhiṣecayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ṣic (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• śirasi: on the head
• śirasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dvādaśa-āvṛttyā: with twelve repetitions/turns
• dvādaśa-āvṛttyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समासः—द्विगु (dvādaśa āvṛttayaḥ)

• tad-ardhaṃ: half of that
• tad-ardhaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (tasya ardham)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-अव्यय)

• tad-ardhakam: a half-portion thereof
• tad-ardhakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ardhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (tasya ardhakam = a half-portion)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed Shaiva ritual instructions to the sages, as typical of Purāṇic discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Praṇava-abhiṣeka and regulated repetition (āvṛtti) are presented as purificatory preliminaries that make the practitioner fit for Śaiva worship and mantra-sādhana.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (praṇava)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-worship is not only external but mantra-centered: the Praṇava (Oṁ) sanctifies the practitioner’s body-mind, beginning with the head, aligning the devotee (paśu) toward Pati (Śiva) through disciplined repetition.

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

In Saguna Śiva worship, mudrā and abhiṣeka function as ritual supports; invoking Oṁ during consecration purifies and prepares the worshipper to approach the Liṅga with steadiness, making the outer rite a vehicle for inner devotion and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Form the śaṅkha-mudrā and perform mantra-abhisheka using Oṁ, repeating it twelve times on the head (or fewer as allowed), as a regulated japa-based consecration practice.