Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

षडध्व-शुद्धिः

Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path

Devanagari script

सूत्रं सूत्रेण संमंत्र्य शिखाग्रे बंधयेच्छिशोः । चरणांगुष्ठपर्यंतमूर्ध्वकायस्य तिष्ठतः

Transliteration

sūtraṃ sūtreṇa saṃmaṃtrya śikhāgre baṃdhayecchiśoḥ | caraṇāṃguṣṭhaparyaṃtamūrdhvakāyasya tiṣṭhataḥ

Translation

Après avoir consacré un cordon par un autre cordon au moyen du mantra, qu’on le noue au chignon du sommet (śikhā) de l’enfant. Que l’enfant se tienne droit, le corps bien dressé, et que le cordon descende jusqu’au gros orteil.

Word by Word

• sūtram: thread
• sūtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sūtreṇa: with (a) thread
• sūtreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃmantrya: having sanctified (by mantra)
• saṃmantrya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-mantr (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal; ‘having consecrated with mantra/recited over’

• śikhā-agre: at the tip of the tuft (śikhā)
• śikhā-agre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bandhayet: should bind/tie
• bandhayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bandh (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative not intended here; ‘should tie/bind’

• śiśoḥ: of the child
• śiśoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• caraṇa-aṅguṣṭha-paryantam: up to the big toe
• caraṇa-aṅguṣṭha-paryantam: Deśa/Avadhi (देश/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅguṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva adverbial: ‘up to the toe of the foot’ (limit/extent)

• ūrdhva-kāyasya: of the upper body
• ūrdhva-kāyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘of the upper body’

• tiṣṭhataḥ: (of the one) standing
• tiṣṭhataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘of one who is standing’ (refers to child)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes mantra-samskāra (sanctification by mantra) and bodily alignment as prerequisites for Shaiva rites—disciplining the pashu (bound soul) through sacred order so it becomes fit for Shiva-oriented worship and inner steadiness.

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

By prescribing a consecrated cord and a controlled posture, it frames external observance as support for Saguna Shiva worship—ritual purity and regulated conduct become aids that steady devotion before the Linga and prepare the mind for deeper contemplation of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A mantra-consecrated binding of a cord at the śikhā with the practitioner standing erect—indicating a formal rite (samskāra/initiatory handling) coupled with posture-discipline akin to preparatory yogic steadiness for japa and worship.