Shloka 22

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

आपोहिष्ठेति शिरसि प्रोक्षयेत्पापशांतये । यस्येति मंत्रं पादे तु संधिप्रोक्षणमुच्यते

Transliteration

āpohiṣṭheti śirasi prokṣayetpāpaśāṃtaye | yasyeti maṃtraṃ pāde tu saṃdhiprokṣaṇamucyate

Translation

For the pacification of sin, one should sprinkle purifying water upon the head while reciting the mantra beginning with “Āpo hi ṣṭhā…”. And the mantra beginning with “Yasya…” is to be applied at the feet—this is called the sprinkling at the joints (limbs) as part of the rite.

Word by Word

आपोहिष्ठेति“āpohiṣṭhā” (thus, the mantra)

शिरसिon the head

प्रोक्षयेत्should sprinkle

पाप-शान्तयेfor the pacification of sin

यस्येति“yasya” (thus, the mantra)

मन्त्रम्mantra

पादेon the foot

तुindeed

सन्धि-प्रोक्षणम्sprinkling at the joints

उच्यतेis called

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner and outer purity support Shiva-upāsanā: sprinkling sanctified water with Vedic mantras is prescribed to calm the effects of pāpa and make the practitioner fit for devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

Before approaching Saguna Shiva in the form of the Linga, the worshipper performs ritual śuddhi (purification). Prokṣaṇa prepares the body and senses so the subsequent linga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, and mantra-japa are done in a consecrated state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform prokṣaṇa (sprinkling) with clean water: recite “Āpo hi ṣṭhā…” while sprinkling the head, and recite “Yasya…” while sprinkling the feet (as limb/joint purification) before continuing Shiva pūjā.