Shloka 33

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

परिधाय शुभं वस्त्रमन्तर्वासश्शुभन्तथा । आचम्य च त्रिवारं हि पूजारंभं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

paridhāya śubhaṃ vastramantarvāsaśśubhantathā | ācamya ca trivāraṃ hi pūjāraṃbhaṃ samācaret

Translation

Having put on clean and auspicious outer garments, and likewise a pure inner cloth, one should perform ācamana three times and then duly commence the worship.

Word by Word

• परिधाय: having put on
• परिधाय: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-धा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वस्त्रम्: garment
• वस्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अन्तर्वासः: inner garment
• अन्तर्वासः: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अन्तर् + वासः)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अन्तर्वासस्य)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• आचम्य: having sipped (water)
• आचम्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• त्रि: three
• त्रि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-पूर्वपद; समासाङ्ग (numeral member)

• वारम्: times
• वारम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of frequency)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• आरम्भम्: beginning/commencement
• आरम्भम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes external and internal purity (vastra-śuddhi, ācamanam) as a gateway to effective Śiva-arcana and mantra-siddhi.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that approaching Śiva begins with śauca (purity) and niyama (disciplined observance): by cleansing oneself and steadying intention, the devotee becomes fit to offer reverent worship to Pati (the Lord) and receive His grace.

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

Linga-worship is a sacred, ordered act in which the devotee meets Saguna Śiva through ritual form; clean clothing and ācamana establish ritual eligibility, ensuring the offerings and mantra are performed with proper reverence and purity before the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ācamana three times and begin the puja in a purified state; as a practical takeaway, pair this with calm breath, mental recollection of Śiva, and then proceed to japa (such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and the formal offerings.