Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

प्रोक्ष्याभिमंत्रयेत्सप्त स्वपाण्योस्तलमेकधा । त्रिधालिप्याथ सम्पश्येत्सूर्य्यमूर्तिं च पावनीम्

Transliteration

prokṣyābhimaṃtrayetsapta svapāṇyostalamekadhā | tridhālipyātha sampaśyetsūryyamūrtiṃ ca pāvanīm

Translation

పవిత్ర జలంతో ప్రోక్షణ చేసి, ఏడు సార్లు మంత్రంతో అభిమంత్రించాలి; తరువాత రెండు అరచేతులను కలిపి ఒకే గర్భంలా చేయాలి. ఆపై త్రిపుండ్రం (భస్మపు మూడు రేఖలు) ధరించి పవిత్రమైన సూర్యమూర్తిని ధ్యానించాలి।

Word by Word

• प्रोक्ष्य: having sprinkled
• प्रोक्ष्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उक्ष्/उक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having sprinkled’

• अभिमन्त्रयेत्: should recite mantras over
• अभिमन्त्रयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; विधि (should consecrate/chant over)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; विशेषण (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• स्व: one's own
• स्व: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; ‘own’ (agrees with पाण्योः)

• पाण्योः: of the two hands
• पाण्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; ‘of (two) hands’

• तलम्: palm (surface)
• तलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एकधा: in one way / uniformly
• एकधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• त्रिधा: three times / threefold
• त्रिधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्या-आधारित क्रियाविशेषण (thrice/threefold)

• आलिप्य: having smeared
• आलिप्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having smeared/applied’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तर (then)

• सम्पश्येत्: should behold/visualize
• सम्पश्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should behold/visualize’

• सूर्य्यमूर्तिम्: the sun-form (image of the Sun)
• सूर्य्यमूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सूर्यस्य मूर्तिः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• पावनीम्: purifying
• पावनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies सूर्य्यमूर्तिम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship begins with inner and outer purification: mantra-empowered water, disciplined hand-gesture, and the Tripuṇḍra lead the mind toward a sattvic, clarifying contemplation that supports devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

These are preparatory acts (ācaman/prokṣaṇa, mantra-saṃskāra, and Tripuṇḍra) that steady the body and mind so the devotee can approach Saguna Shiva—such as the Liṅga—with purity, reverence, and focused awareness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sprinkle and consecrate water with mantra seven times, join the palms as one, apply the three ash-lines (Tripuṇḍra), and then meditate on the purifying solar form as a means of cleansing and concentrating the mind before Shiva worship.