Shloka 77

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

निकृत्य केशान् सशिखान् उपवीतं विसृज्य च पञ्चभिर् जुहुयाद् अप्सु भूः स्वाहेति विचक्षणः

Transliteration

nikṛtya keśān saśikhān upavītaṃ visṛjya ca pañcabhir juhuyād apsu bhūḥ svāheti vicakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Après s’être coupé les cheveux avec la mèche (śikhā) et avoir aussi rejeté le cordon sacré (upavīta), le pratiquant avisé doit accomplir cinq oblations dans l’eau en prononçant : « Bhūḥ—svāhā ».

Word by Word

• निकृत्य (nikṛtya): having cut off

• केशान् (keśān): the hair

• सशिखान् (saśikhān): along with the śikhā/topknot

• उपवीतम् (upavītam): the sacred thread

• विसृज्य (visṛjya): having discarded/cast away

• च (ca): and

• पञ्चभिः (pañcabhiḥ): with five (oblations)

• जुहुयात् (juhuyāt): should offer as oblation

• अप्सु (apsu): in water

• भूः (bhūḥ): the Bhūḥ-vyāhṛti (earth-plane invocation)

• स्वाहा (svāhā): oblation-formula ‘hail/so be it’

• इति (iti): thus

• विचक्षणः (vicakṣaṇaḥ): the discerning/wise one

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prescribes a severe purification/expiation step—renouncing external marks (śikhā and upavīta) and performing mantra-oblation—so the worshipper approaches Shiva (Pati) with cleansed conduct and intention, fit for Linga-upāsanā.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By emphasizing inner eligibility over social insignia, it aligns with Shiva-tattva as the supreme Pati who is accessed through purification and surrender rather than mere external identity—loosening pāśa (bondage) that binds the paśu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A prayāścitta-style water oblation (apsu homa) performed five times with the vyāhṛti “Bhūḥ” and “svāhā,” paired with symbolic renunciation of marks—an outer discipline that supports Shaiva vrata and Pāśupata-oriented purification.