Shloka 17

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

आजानु जलमाविश्य मंत्रस्नानं समाचरेत् । देवादींस्तर्पयेद्विद्वांस्तत्र तीर्थजलेन च

Transliteration

ājānu jalamāviśya maṃtrasnānaṃ samācaret | devādīṃstarpayedvidvāṃstatra tīrthajalena ca

Translation

Entering the water up to the knees, the wise devotee should perform the mantra-bath; and there, with that sacred tīrtha-water, he should also offer tarpaṇa (ritual satisfaction) to the Devas and the other divine recipients.

Word by Word

• ā-jānu: up to the knees
• ā-jānu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-jānu (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverbial (अव्यय) meaning ‘up to the knees’

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of āviśya

• āviśya: having entered
• āviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-viś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्); ‘having entered’

• maṃtra-snānam: mantra-bathing
• maṃtra-snānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: mantreṇa snānam (mantra-bath) तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः

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

• deva-ādīn: the gods and others
• deva-ādīn: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समासः: devāḥ ādayaḥ yeṣām (the gods and others) ‘ādi’ as suffixal member; object of tarpayet

• tarpayet: should satisfy (by offerings)
• tarpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṛp (धातु)
• Form: Causative stem (णिजन्त), Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘he should satisfy/offer libations’

• vidvān: the learned person
• vidvān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; present active participle used as noun ‘the learned man’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय) ‘there/in that context’

• tīrtha-jalena: with sacred water
• tīrtha-jalena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समासः: tīrthasya jalam (water of a sacred ford) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-worship procedures to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Tarpaṇa at tīrtha integrates gratitude to devas/ṛṣis/pitṛs, reducing karmic bonds (pāśa) and making the aspirant fit for Śiva’s worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purification (bathing) becomes spiritually potent when joined to mantra, and that sacred water is used to honor cosmic order through tarpaṇa—supporting a Śaiva life of purity, gratitude, and readiness for Śiva-upāsanā.

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

Mantra-snāna and tarpaṇa are preparatory rites that steady the body-mind and align the worshipper with dharma before approaching Saguna Śiva in Linga-pūjā; the tīrtha-water becomes an instrument of reverent service (sevā) leading into formal Śiva-arcana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a knee-deep tīrtha-bath while reciting Śiva-mantras (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), then offer tarpaṇa with the same holy water to devas and other recipients as prescribed.