Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

साक्षरा विपरीताश्च राक्षसास्त इति स्मृताः । तस्माद्वै विपरीतं च कर्म्म नैवाचरेद्यतिः

Transliteration

sākṣarā viparītāśca rākṣasāsta iti smṛtāḥ | tasmādvai viparītaṃ ca karmma naivācaredyatiḥ

Translation

Mereka yang berilmu huruf namun bertindak menyimpang dan terbalik, dalam Smṛti dikenang sebagai ‘Rākṣasa’. Karena itu seorang yati jangan pernah melakukan perbuatan yang bertentangan dengan dharma.

Word by Word

• स-अक्षराः: (those) with syllables/letters
• स-अक्षराः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः = ‘अक्षरैः सहिताः’/‘having letters (mantric syllables)’

• विपरीताः: perverse/contrary
• विपरीताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• राक्षसाः: demons
• राक्षसाः: Pratijna (प्रातिपदिकार्थ/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• स्मृताः: are considered/called
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) प्रयुक्तं विधेयवत्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are called/are remembered as’

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/therefore)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘therefore/from that’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (emphatic particle)

• विपरीतम्: the contrary (act)
• विपरीतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कर्म: action/deed
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• आचरेत्: should practice/do
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यतिः: an ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching in the Kailasa Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mere learning is not spiritual attainment; when knowledge is joined to inverted conduct it becomes demonic-mindedness. For liberation, the yati must align thought and action with dharma, reducing pasha (bondage) and moving toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Linga-worship is not only external ritual; it requires inner purity and dharmic restraint. Acting ‘viparīta’ contradicts the very aim of Saguna Shiva worship—purification of the devotee so grace can flow and the mind can rest in Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined conduct (yama-niyama) as a Shaiva practice: keep vows, avoid harmful or deceitful acts, and support worship with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a life of restraint.