Shloka 15

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

येन केन च पत्रेण काष्ठेन च जलाद्बहिः । कार्यं संत्यज्य तर्ज्जनीं दंतधावनमीरितम्

Transliteration

yena kena ca patreṇa kāṣṭhena ca jalādbahiḥ | kāryaṃ saṃtyajya tarjjanīṃ daṃtadhāvanamīritam

Translation

歯を清めるには、水場の外へ出て、他の一切の用事を捨て置き、適当な葉または小木片をもって歯を磨くべし。この行いには人差し指（タルジャニー）を用いてはならない。

Word by Word

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by which’

• kena: by any
• kena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative/indefinite pronoun, Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; with yena…kena = ‘by any (whatever)’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• patreṇa: with a leaf
• patreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with a leaf’

• kāṣṭhena: with wood
• kāṣṭhena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with a piece of wood’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• jalāt: from water
• jalāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘from water’

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Preverb-like indeclinable (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय) meaning ‘outside’

• kāryam: is to be done
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म/Object; predicative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; here as predicate/thing to be done: ‘(it is) to be done’

• saṃtyajya: having abandoned
• saṃtyajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having completely abandoned’

• tarjjanīm: the index finger
• tarjjanīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarjjanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘index finger’

• danta-dhāvanam: tooth-cleaning
• danta-dhāvanam: Karma (कर्म/Object; topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: dantānāṃ dhāvanaṃ (teeth-cleaning) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• īritam: is prescribed
• īritam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि कृदन्त/क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘is prescribed/declared’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed observances as taught in the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes śauca (ritual purity) as a prerequisite for Śiva-pūjā; purity disciplines the bound soul (paśu) to become fit for anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches śauca (purity) and disciplined conduct as a foundation for Shiva-bhakti—outer cleanliness supports inner steadiness, making the mind fit for mantra and worship.

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

Linga-worship in the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā is preceded by proper daily observances; this rule emphasizes preparing oneself with cleanliness and restraint before approaching Saguna Shiva through ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical morning observance: brush teeth with a leaf/twig away from the water source and avoid using the index finger—then proceed toward bath, mantra (like the Pañcākṣarī), and Shiva-pūjā.