Shloka 17

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

गंधलेपापनोदार्थ शौचं देहस्य कीर्तितम् । द्वयस्यापगमाच्छुद्धिश्शुद्धस्पर्शाद्विशुध्यति

Transliteration

gaṃdhalepāpanodārtha śaucaṃ dehasya kīrtitam | dvayasyāpagamācchuddhiśśuddhasparśādviśudhyati

Translation

身体の清浄（śauca）とは、悪臭と塗りついた穢れを取り除くものだと説かれる。両者が去れば清らかさが生じ、清浄なるものに触れることで、さらに完全に浄められる。

Word by Word

• गन्धलेपापनोदार्थम्: meant for removing smell and paste
• गन्धलेपापनोदार्थम्: विशेषण (Adjective to शौचम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + लेप (प्रातिपदिक) + अपनोद (अप + नुद् धातु से घञ्/प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; 'having the purpose of removing smell and unguent'

• शौचम्: purification, cleanliness
• शौचम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन

• देहस्य: of the body
• देहस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• कीर्तितम्: is stated
• कीर्तितम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन; 'is declared'

• द्वयस्य: of the two
• द्वयस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन; 'of the two (things)'

• अपगमात्: from the removal
• अपगमात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपगम (अप + गम् धातु से घञ्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; 'from removal/cessation'

• शुद्धिः: purity
• शुद्धिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन

• शुद्धस्पर्शात्: from contact with the pure
• शुद्धस्पर्शात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कर्मधारय-भाव: 'pure touch'); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• विशुध्यति: becomes purified
• विशुध्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthala) passage; it defines śauca as a preparatory discipline for worship and inner purification rather than narrating a Jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Frames tīrtha/temple contact as efficacious only when aligned with genuine purity; emphasizes that external śauca supports (but does not replace) inner transformation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines śauca as both removal of gross impurity and cultivation of sattvic purity; in Shaiva Siddhanta, outer cleanliness supports inner fitness for Shiva-upasana, where purity becomes a condition for steady devotion and right knowledge.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes approaching Saguna Shiva with śauca—clean body, clean articles, and pure conduct—so that the devotee’s contact with sanctified substances (water, bhasma, flowers, prasada) and the holy presence of Shiva strengthens purity and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain bodily cleanliness before puja, then reinforce purity through contact with sacred purifiers—snana, ācamana, applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—as a practical śauca discipline.