Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

तीर्थं प्रविश्य तन्मध्ये निमज्योन्मज्य ताम्मृदम् । स्कन्धे संस्थाप्य पूर्वोक्तप्रकारेण विलेपयेत्

Transliteration

tīrthaṃ praviśya tanmadhye nimajyonmajya tāmmṛdam | skandhe saṃsthāpya pūrvoktaprakāreṇa vilepayet

Translation

తీర్థంలో ప్రవేశించి అందులో మునిగి మళ్లీ పైకి వచ్చి ఆ పవిత్ర భస్మమృత్తికను గ్రహించాలి; భుజంపై స్థాపించి పూర్వోక్త విధానమున దేహమున లేపనం చేయాలి.

Word by Word

• तीर्थम्: sacred water/place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund: having entered)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-एकवचनस्य पूर्वपदम् (in that) — ‘तन्मध्ये’ इत्यत्र विशेषणम्

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (locative: in the middle)

• निमज्य: having dipped
• निमज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund: having dipped/immersed)

• उन्मज्य: having come up
• उन्मज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्+मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund: having emerged)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (demonstrative: that)

• मृदम्: clay/earth
• मृदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (accusative: clay/earth)

• स्कन्धे: on the shoulder
• स्कन्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (locative: on the shoulder)

• संस्थाप्य: having placed
• संस्थाप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund: having placed/established)

• पूर्वोक्तप्रकारेण: according to the previously stated method
• पूर्वोक्तप्रकारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व+उक्त+प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, तृतीया-एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वोक्तः प्रकारः = the previously stated method; instrumental: by/according to)

• विलेपयेत्: should smear/apply
• विलेपयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+लिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिच् (causative nuance possible in usage: should smear/apply)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General tīrtha-vidhi: entering sacred waters, submerging and emerging, and taking holy earth/clay for purification—treated as a portable sanctifier akin to tīrtha-mṛd/bhasma traditions.

Significance: Tīrtha-snāna and mṛd-grahaṇa function as external purification supporting inner purification; in Siddhānta terms, it aids the paśu in loosening pāśa (mala/karma) through disciplined observance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches tīrtha-śauca (purification through a sacred ford) and the disciplined use of sanctified earth/ash as an outer sign of inner surrender to Pati (Śiva), aligning the practitioner’s body and intention with Shaiva purity and devotion.

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

Preparing the body by tīrtha-snana and applying sacred earth/ash supports Saguna Śiva worship by making the devotee ritually fit to approach the Linga with reverence, steadiness, and the prescribed Shaiva marks.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates tīrtha-bathing followed by collecting sanctified clay and applying it as a Shaiva mark (commonly associated with bhasma/tripundra procedures), performed exactly according to the earlier stated method.