Shloka 87

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

सावित्रीं शतरुद्रीयं वेदान्तांश्च विशेषतः / अभ्यसेत् सततं युक्ते भस्मस्नानपरायणः

Transliteration

sāvitrīṃ śatarudrīyaṃ vedāntāṃśca viśeṣataḥ / abhyaset satataṃ yukte bhasmasnānaparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Celui qui est discipliné—voué au bain de cendre sacrée (bhasma)—doit pratiquer sans cesse la Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī), le Śatarudrīya et, tout particulièrement, les enseignements du Vedānta.

Word by Word

• सावित्रीम्: the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)
• सावित्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvitrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शतरुद्रीयम्: the Śatarudrīya (hymn)
• शतरुद्रीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatarudrīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वेदान्तान्: the Vedāntas/Upaniṣads
• वेदान्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• अभ्यसेत्: should practice/recite repeatedly
• अभ्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सततम्: continually
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• युक्ते: when disciplined/being focused
• युक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yuj धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in/when (one is) disciplined’ (locative absolute sense)

• भस्मस्नानपरायणः: devoted to ash-bathing
• भस्मस्नानपरायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasma + snāna + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भस्मस्नाने परायणः = devoted to bathing with ash)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing Indradyumna and the sages on Pāśupata-aligned discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)
• Śatarudrīya (Rudra hymn)
• Vedānta
• Bhasma (sacred ash)
• Rudra/Śiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By prioritizing Vedānta alongside mantra-recitation, the verse points the practitioner beyond ritual to Upaniṣadic insight—knowledge of the Self as the ultimate ground—while keeping that knowledge integrated with disciplined practice.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It prescribes a Pāśupata-leaning regimen: bhasma-snāna (ash-bath/ash observance), continual abhyāsa (steady repetition and cultivation), and japa/recitation of Gāyatrī and Śatarudrīya, supported by Vedāntic contemplation.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

With Viṣṇu (as Lord Kūrma) endorsing Śatarudrīya and bhasma observances while also stressing Vedānta, the text models a non-sectarian synthesis in which Śaiva practices and Vaiṣṇava teaching harmonize toward the same liberation.