Shloka 81

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

केशश्मश्रुनखानेव कर्म्मावधि विसृज्य च । समाष्टकेशान्विधिवत्कारयित्वा विधानतः

Transliteration

keśaśmaśrunakhāneva karmmāvadhi visṛjya ca | samāṣṭakeśānvidhivatkārayitvā vidhānataḥ

Translation

聖なる行の期間は、髪・髭・爪を切ることを慎んで離れるべし。のち、定められた規則に従い、髪をしかるべく整え、正しい作法にて刈りそろえさせよ。

Word by Word

• केश: hair
• केश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग) — as member in compound

• श्मश्रु: beard/moustache
• श्मश्रु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग) — as member in compound

• नखान्: nails
• नखान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय — particle of comparison ‘as/like’

• कर्म: act/ritual duty
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग) — as member in compound

• अवधि: until the limit/end
• अवधि: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास (कर्म-अवधि), अव्ययवत् — ‘until the completion of the rite’

• विसृज्य: having abandoned
• विसृज्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल — having let go/abandoned

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय — conjunction ‘and’

• समाष्टकेशान्: the hair arranged in the prescribed eightfold manner
• समाष्टकेशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + आष्ट (अष्टन्) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural; समासः: सम्यक् आष्टौ (अष्ट) केशाः/केशसमूहः (interpretive: ‘properly in eight parts/with eight tufts’)

• विधिवत्: according to the rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त अव्यय — adverb ‘according to rule’

• कारयित्वा: having had (it) done
• कारयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) (णिच् causative: कारय)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोगे क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल — having caused to be done

• विधानतः: as prescribed
• विधानतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय — ‘as prescribed/according to injunction’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches vrata-dharma: disciplined restraint of the senses and body during a Shiva-observance, supporting inner purity and steadiness of devotion (bhakti) toward Pati, Lord Shiva.

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

Such bodily disciplines are preparatory vows that accompany Saguna Shiva worship—making the devotee fit for Linga-puja by cultivating cleanliness, self-control, and reverence for the ritual injunctions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A vrata practice: avoid cutting hair, beard, and nails for the observance period, then arrange/trim properly as prescribed—supporting focused worship, japa, and puja done with niyama (rule-based discipline).