Shloka 38

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

केवलं वा जपेन्नित्यं ब्राह्मण्यस्य च पूर्तये । सहस्रमभ्यसेन्नित्यं प्रातर्ब्राह्मणपुंगवः

Transliteration

kevalaṃ vā japennityaṃ brāhmaṇyasya ca pūrtaye | sahasramabhyasennityaṃ prātarbrāhmaṇapuṃgavaḥ

Translation

Or else, for the very fulfillment of true brahminhood, he should practise japa daily in solitude with single-mindedness. The best of Brahmins should regularly repeat it a thousand times every morning.

Word by Word

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम् (used adverbially: ‘only/merely’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/पोटेन्शियल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम् (adverb: ‘always’)

• ब्राह्मण्यस्य: of brahminhood
• ब्राह्मण्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पूर्तये: for the fulfillment
• पूर्तये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सहस्रम्: a thousand (times)
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभ्यसेत्: should practice
• अभ्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभ्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/पोटेन्शियल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम् (adverb: ‘always’)

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: ‘in the morning’)

• ब्राह्मणपुंगवः: the foremost Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणपुंगवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (best among Brahmins)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: praṇava (Oṃ)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady, daily mantra-japa—done with single-mindedness—perfects inner purity and dharmic refinement, which Shaiva Siddhanta treats as essential preparation for Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

In the Vidyeshvara context, japa is a primary mode of Saguna Shiva worship—invoking Shiva through sound-form (mantra) alongside Linga-oriented devotion—so that the mind becomes fit for deeper contemplation of Shiva’s supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A morning discipline of mantra-japa, ideally the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as taught in this Samhita, repeated one thousand times daily with focused attention.