Shloka 23

संन्यासाचारवर्णनम्

Description of the Conduct and Daily Discipline of Saṃnyāsa

Devanagari script

ईशानादिसमारभ्य सद्यान्तं पंचभिः क्रमात् । उद्धूल्य कवलं पश्चात्प्रणवेनाभिषेचयेत्

Transliteration

īśānādisamārabhya sadyāntaṃ paṃcabhiḥ kramāt | uddhūlya kavalaṃ paścātpraṇavenābhiṣecayet

Translation

Beginning with Īśāna and proceeding in due order through the five (mantras/aspects), up to Sadya, one should rub (purify) the mouthful (of water); thereafter, one should consecrate it by sprinkling it with the Praṇava (Oṁ).

Word by Word

• īśāna-ādi: from Īśāna and the rest (starting with Īśāna)
• īśāna-ādi: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (īśānaḥ ādiḥ yasya/īśānāt ādiḥ)

• samārabhya: having begun; starting
• samārabhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-rabh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having begun/starting’

• sadya-antaṃ: up to ‘Sadya’ (the end point)
• sadya-antaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadya (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (sadyaḥ antaḥ yasya / sadya-anta)

• pañcabhiḥ: with five (steps)
• pañcabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; gender-contextual (here with ‘kramaiḥ’ implied)

• kramāt: in sequence; step by step
• kramāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; adverbial usage ‘in order/stepwise’

• uddhūlya: having removed/shaken off
• uddhūlya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-dhūl (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having shaken off/removed’

• kavalaṃ: a mouthful; bolus (of water)
• kavalaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (काल/देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-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 (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; causative sense not assumed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva ritual instructions to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ईशानः सर्वविद्यानाम् ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानाम् । ब्रह्माधिपतिर्ब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिर्ब्रह्मा शिवो मे अस्तु सदा शिवोम् ॥ (क्रमेण) तत्पुरुष… अघोर… वामदेव… सद्योजात… ततः प्रणवः (ॐ)

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purification is empowered by mantra: the fivefold Śiva-principle (Pañcabrahma) culminates in consecration by Oṁ, indicating that ritual cleansing becomes spiritually effective when aligned with Pati (Śiva) through sacred sound.

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

The Pañcabrahma sequence (Īśāna through Sadyojāta) is a Saguna framing of Śiva’s five faces used in Linga-worship; sprinkling with Praṇava sacralizes the offering/act so the worship becomes fit for Śiva’s presence in the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A purification rite using a mouthful of water (kavala) is performed while invoking the five Śiva-mantras in order, and then the water is consecrated by Oṁ for sprinkling—linking bodily cleansing with mantra-japa and contemplative recollection of Śiva.