Shloka 57

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

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा षण्मुखस्तस्मै क्षौरस्नानविधिक्रमम् । वक्तुमारभत प्रीत्या यतीनां कृपया शुभम्

Transliteration

ityuktvā ṣaṇmukhastasmai kṣaurasnānavidhikramam | vaktumārabhata prītyā yatīnāṃ kṛpayā śubham

Translation

इत्युक्त्वा षण्मुखः प्रीत्या तस्मै क्षौरस्नानविधिक्रमम्। यतीनां कृपया शुभं वक्तुमारभत॥

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyopasaṃhāra (वाक्योपसंहार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √vac (वच्, धातु; क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having said)

• ṣaṇmukhaḥ: Ṣaṇmukha (six-faced one)
• ṣaṇmukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (षण्मुखः = यस्य षण्मुखानि सः)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• kṣaura-snāna-vidhi-kramaṃ: the procedure of the shaving-bath rite
• kṣaura-snāna-vidhi-kramaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaura (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षौरस्नानस्य विधेः क्रमः)

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √vac (वच्, धातु; तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थे (in order to speak)

• ārabhata: began
• ārabhata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√rabh (रभ्, धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• prītyā: with love
• prītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावे करणम् (with affection)

• yatīnām: of ascetics
• yatīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• kṛpayā: with compassion
• kṛpayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मपदस्य विशेषण (qualifying the thing to be spoken/rite)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa discourse; within the story, Ṣaṇmukha/Kārttikeya is the instructor)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Connects renunciant discipline (yati-ācāra) with auspicious bodily purification—supporting steadiness in yoga and worship.

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

It frames bodily purification (shaving and ritual bathing) as an auspicious aid to the yati’s sādhana—supporting clarity, restraint, and readiness for Shaiva worship and inner purification.

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

By emphasizing prescribed purity before rites, it aligns with Saguna Shiva worship where outer discipline (snāna, śauca) prepares the devotee for reverent Linga-upāsanā and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured kṣaura (tonsure/shaving) followed by snāna according to vidhi—used as preparatory śauca before mantra practice and Shaiva observances.