Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

गुरुं नत्वा विशेषेण लब्धानुज्ञस्ततो गुरोः । शिरस्संक्षाल्य चाचम्य सवासाः क्षौरमाचरेत्

Transliteration

guruṃ natvā viśeṣeṇa labdhānujñastato guroḥ | śirassaṃkṣālya cācamya savāsāḥ kṣauramācaret

Translation

師（グル）にことさらに恭敬して礼拝し、その許可を得たのち、頭を洗い、アーチャマナ（ācamana）を行うべきである。次いで衣をまとったまま、シヴァ礼拝の前行の浄めとして、剃髪の儀（kṣaura）を修すべし。

Word by Word

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नत्वा: having bowed (to)
• नत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having bowed’

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणार्थे ‘especially’

• लब्ध-अनुज्ञः: having obtained permission
• लब्ध-अनुज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘लब्ध’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) + ‘अनुज्ञ’ (permission) तत्पुरुष; अर्थः ‘having obtained permission’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संक्षाल्य: having washed
• संक्षाल्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having washed thoroughly’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having sipped (water for purification)’

• स-वासाः: clothed / wearing garments
• स-वासाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाव ‘with clothes on’ (clothed)

• क्षौरम्: shaving (rite)
• क्षौरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed observances as taught in the Kailāsasaṃhitā tradition)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-sādhana begins with humility toward the Guru and śauca (purity). In a Śaiva Siddhānta sense, right practice is safeguarded by the Guru’s anugraha (grace/authorization), which helps remove pāśa (bondage) through disciplined observance.

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

Linga-worship is approached through regulated preparation: cleansing, ācamana, and orderly conduct. These acts honor Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord of rites while aligning the devotee’s body-mind for focused pūjā and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It prescribes preparatory purification: bowing to the Guru, receiving permission, washing the head, performing ācamana, and then undertaking kṣaura (shaving/tonsure) while clothed—signaling disciplined readiness for subsequent Śiva-pūjā, japa, and observances.