Shloka 25

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

प्रातः सूर्यानुवाकेन सायमग्न्यनुवाकतः । अपः पीत्वा तथामध्ये पुनः प्रोक्षणमाचरेत्

Transliteration

prātaḥ sūryānuvākena sāyamagnyanuvākataḥ | apaḥ pītvā tathāmadhye punaḥ prokṣaṇamācaret

Translation

In the morning one should perform purification with the Sūrya-anuvāka, and in the evening with the Agni-anuvāka. Having sipped water (ācamana), and likewise at midday, one should again perform the sprinkling rite of purification (prokṣaṇa).

Word by Word

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सूर्य-अनुवाकेन: with the Sūrya-anuvāka (recitation)
• सूर्य-अनुवाकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सूर्यस्य अनुवाकः)

• सायम्: in the evening
• सायम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सायम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अग्नि-अनुवाकतः: according to/from the Agni-anuvāka
• अग्नि-अनुवाकतः: Hetu/Pramana (हेतु/प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘from/according to’; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अग्नेः अनुवाकः)

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having drunk’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• मध्ये: in the middle (midday)
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभाव (locative adverb: ‘in the middle’)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb: ‘again’)

• प्रोक्षणम्: sprinkling (ritual aspersion)
• प्रोक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रोक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; √उक्ष्/√क्षिप्? ritual term)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आचरेत्: should perform/practice
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya
• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined daily purification—aligning body, speech, and mind—so that worship of Lord Shiva (Pati) is offered from a state of inner and outer clarity, supporting steady bhakti and readiness for grace (anugraha).

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

Before approaching the Shiva Linga (Saguna worship), the devotee performs ācamana and prokṣaṇa with sacred recitations; this establishes ritual fitness (adhikāra) and reverence, making the offering a proper upacāra in Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ācamana (sipping water) and prokṣaṇa (sprinkling for purification) three times daily—morning with Sūrya-anuvāka, evening with Agni-anuvāka, and again at midday—before commencing Shiva worship and mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī).