Shloka 13

Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)

Devanagari script

अन्यां मृदम्भागयित्वा शिरसि द्वादश क्रमात् । आलिप्य मृदमास्यान्तनिमज्य च पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

anyāṃ mṛdambhāgayitvā śirasi dvādaśa kramāt | ālipya mṛdamāsyāntanimajya ca punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Ensuite, prenant une autre part de l’argile sacrée, qu’il l’applique sur la tête en douze poses successives ; puis, après l’avoir enduite, qu’il replonge l’argile jusqu’au bord de la bouche (jusqu’aux lèvres) encore et encore, accomplissant ainsi le rite śaiva de purification prescrit.

Word by Word

• अन्याम्: another (portion)
• अन्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; adjective used substantively = 'another (portion)'

• मृदम्: clay/earth
• मृदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भागयित्वा: having divided
• भागयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; 'having divided/portioned'

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Saṅkhyā (संख्या; measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; here used adverbially = 'twelve (times/steps)'

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'in order/stepwise'

• आलिप्य: having smeared
• आलिप्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (आ-), क्त्वान्त (absolutive), परस्मैपदी; 'having smeared/applied'

• मृदम्: clay
• मृदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आस्य-अन्त-निमज्य: having dipped into the mouth (inside)
• आस्य-अन्त-निमज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (आस्यस्य अन्तः/आस्ये अन्ते); क्त्वान्त (absolutive) of √मज्ज् with prefix नि-; 'having dipped (it) into the inside of the mouth'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्ति-बोधक अव्यय (adverb)

• पुनः: again (repeatedly)
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्ति-बोधक अव्यय (adverb); repetition for emphasis

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Bhasma/mṛd-dhāraṇa marks Śaiva identity and supports purity and steadiness for mantra and pūjā; it is treated as a protective and sanctifying observance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, repeated ritual purity as a support for devotion—training the body and mind to become fit for Shiva-upasana, where outer cleanliness mirrors inner steadiness toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Such preparatory rites (using sacred earth/ash markings) are traditional preliminaries to approaching Saguna Shiva in Linga-worship—establishing reverence, purity, and ritual correctness before puja and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A prescribed application of sacred clay/ash in a twelvefold sequence on the head, with repeated dipping and reapplying—consistent with Shaiva purification practices associated with Tripundra/Bhasma observance.