Shloka 30

त्रिपुरदीक्षाविधानम् — Tripura Dīkṣā: Prescriptive Procedure

Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation

Devanagari script

मार्जनीं ध्रियमाणाश्च वस्त्रखंडविनिर्मिताम् । शनैः शनैश्चलन्तो हि जीवहिंसाभयाद्ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

mārjanīṃ dhriyamāṇāśca vastrakhaṃḍavinirmitām | śanaiḥ śanaiścalanto hi jīvahiṃsābhayāddhruvam

Translation

Holding a broom made from torn pieces of cloth, they moved very slowly indeed—certainly out of fear of harming living beings.

Word by Word

• mārjanīm: a broom/brush
• mārjanīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārjanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• dhriyamāṇāḥ: being held/holding (in hand)
• dhriyamāṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शानच्-प्रत्यय (present passive participle) ‘ध्रियमाण’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• vastra-khaṇḍa-vinirmitām: made from pieces of cloth
• vastra-khaṇḍa-vinirmitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-nirmita (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative) ‘वस्त्रखण्डेन विनिर्मिता’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of mārjanīm)

• śanaiḥ: slowly
• śanaiḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• śanaiḥ: very slowly
• śanaiḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

• calantaḥ: moving/walking
• calantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cal (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) ‘चलन्त्’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (indeed)

• jīva-hiṃsā-bhayāt: from fear of harming living beings
• jīva-hiṃsā-bhayāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīva (प्रातिपदिक) + hiṃsā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative) ‘जीवहिंसायाः भयम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (indeclinable usage as adverb); निश्चयार्थक (certainly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights ahiṃsā (non-harming) as a core dharmic discipline: spiritual life is not only mantra and worship, but also careful conduct that protects even subtle forms of life—an attitude that purifies the pashu (bound soul) and supports Shiva-bhakti.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is grounded in purity and compassion; reverence for Saguna Shiva expresses itself as reverence for life. Careful movement and avoidance of harm become an offering (sevā) aligned with Shiva’s grace-bestowing nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mindful walking and daily conduct as vrata-like discipline: move attentively, keep surroundings clean without harming creatures, and pair such ahiṃsā with steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an inner practice of compassion.