Shloka 46

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

लक्षद्वादशयुक्तस्तु पूर्णब्राह्मण ईरितः । गायत्र् या लक्षहीनं तु वेदकार्येन योजयेत्

Transliteration

lakṣadvādaśayuktastu pūrṇabrāhmaṇa īritaḥ | gāyatr yā lakṣahīnaṃ tu vedakāryena yojayet

Translation

He who is endowed with twelve lakṣas (i.e., has completed the prescribed count of recitation) is declared to be a “complete Brāhmaṇa.” But one who is deficient by a lakṣa should be engaged in Vedic duties through the recitation of the Gāyatrī.

Word by Word

• lakṣa-dvādaśa-yuktaḥ: endowed with twelve lakhs (of repetitions)
• lakṣa-dvādaśa-yuktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + yukta (कृत्)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वपद: 'twelve lakhs') + yukta; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle): 'but/indeed'

• pūrṇa-brāhmaṇaḥ: a complete Brāhmaṇa
• pūrṇa-brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• īritaḥ: is declared
• īritaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'is said/declared'

• gāyatrī: Gāyatrī (mantra)
• gāyatrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (mantra/name)

• yā: which
• yā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun) referring to gāyatrī

• lakṣa-hīnam: lacking a lakh (short by one lakh)
• lakṣa-hīnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (implicit japa/saṅkhyā understood)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधानार्थक

• veda-kāryena: by means of Vedic rites/duties
• veda-kāryena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• yojayet: should make up/should apply
• yojayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त-प्रयोगार्थः (causative sense): 'should connect/compensate/assign'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Veda

FAQs

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

It links spiritual qualification with disciplined mantra-recitation: completeness is not merely birth-based but refined through sustained japa, which purifies the seeker and makes them fit for higher Shaiva and Vedic practice.

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

In the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā, foundational disciplines support Shiva-upāsanā; regular japa (including Gāyatrī as a purifier) prepares the aspirant for proper Linga worship, mantra-sādhana, and steadiness in devotion to Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse recommends completing prescribed counts of japa; if deficient, one should intensify Gāyatrī-japa alongside Vedic duties (nitya-karma), as a corrective discipline to restore eligibility and purity.