Shloka 16

Devanagari script

जलदेवान्नमस्कृत्य मंत्रेण स्नानमाचरेत् । अशक्तः कंठदघ्नं वा कटिदघ्नमथापि वा

Transliteration

jaladevānnamaskṛtya maṃtreṇa snānamācaret | aśaktaḥ kaṃṭhadaghnaṃ vā kaṭidaghnamathāpi vā

Translation

Having first bowed to the deities presiding over the waters, one should perform the bath while reciting the mantra. If one is unable to do a full bath, one may bathe up to the neck, or even up to the waist.

Word by Word

• jala-devān: the water-deities
• jala-devān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala-deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समासः: jale devāḥ (water-deities) सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः/तत्पुरुषः; object of namaskṛtya

• namaskṛtya: having saluted
• namaskṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्); ‘having saluted’

• maṃtreṇa: with a mantra
• maṃtreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with a mantra’

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of ācaret

• ācaret: should perform
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘he should perform’

• aśaktaḥ: (if) unable
• aśaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘unable’ (qualifies implied person)

• kaṇṭha-daghnam: up to the throat
• kaṇṭha-daghnam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + daghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: kaṇṭhaṃ daghnaṃ yāvat (up to the throat) तत्पुरुषः; qualifies snānam (implied)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पबोधक अव्यय)

• kaṭi-daghnam: up to the waist
• kaṭi-daghnam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + daghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: kaṭiṃ daghnaṃ yāvat (up to the waist) तत्पुरुषः; qualifies snānam (implied)

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गसूचक अव्यय) ‘then/also’

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also/even)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Mantra-snāna and reverence to jaladevatās sacralize the body-mind, preparing the paśu for Śiva’s grace through regulated practice.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that purification for Shiva-worship is fundamentally mantra-centered: reverence to the presiding powers of water and recitation of sacred mantra sanctify the act, while compassionately allowing practical alternatives when full bathing is not possible.

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

Before approaching the Shiva Linga (Saguna Shiva as the worshipful form), the devotee prepares through śauca (purity). Mantra-snana becomes an outer support for inner readiness, aligning the body-mind for focused devotion and proper upacāras in Linga-puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform mantra-snana: salute the water-deities, then bathe while reciting a Shiva-mantra (commonly the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”). If unable to bathe fully, do a neck-deep or waist-deep bath as an acceptable observance.