Shloka 46

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

तिलकं वन्दनेनाथ सर्वाङ्गालेपनं पुनः । स्वसम्प्रदायानुगुणं कारयेच्च यथाविधि

Transliteration

tilakaṃ vandanenātha sarvāṅgālepanaṃ punaḥ | svasampradāyānuguṇaṃ kārayecca yathāvidhi

Translation

Kemudian, wahai Tuhan, setelah mempersembahkan sembah sujud, hendaklah seseorang menyapukan tilaka sekali lagi dan menyapu minyak/abu suci ke seluruh tubuh, melaksanakannya dengan tepat menurut tatacara serta selaras dengan tradisi Śaiva masing-masing.

Word by Word

• tilakam: tilaka mark
• tilakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• vandanena: by worship/salutation
• vandanena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; साधन/उपायार्थे

• atha: then/now
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• sarvāṅga-ālepanam: smearing of the whole body
• sarvāṅga-ālepanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + ālepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् अङ्गानाम् आलेपनम्)

• punaḥ: again/further
• punaḥ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक क्रियाविशेषण

• sva-sampradāya-anuguṇam: appropriate to one’s own tradition
• sva-sampradāya-anuguṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sampradāya (प्रातिपदिक) + anuguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तिलकं/आलेपनं प्रति); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य सम्प्रदायस्य अनुगुणम्)

• kārayet: should have (it) done / should cause to be done
• kārayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) [णिच् causative: kāray-]
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (to cause to do)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed rule
• yathā-vidhi: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (according to rule)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer observances like tilaka and bodily anointing are meaningful when done with reverence and correct method, supporting inner devotion and disciplined Shaiva practice aligned with one’s lineage.

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

Tilaka and anointing function as preparatory acts of purification and identification with Shiva-bhakti, making the worshipper fit to approach Saguna Shiva—especially in Linga-puja—through orderly, tradition-based rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

After salutations, apply the Shaiva tilaka (often tripuṇḍra with bhasma) and perform bodily anointing as prescribed in one’s sampradaya, maintaining attentive, rule-based worship that supports mantra-japa and puja.