Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

मृदमन्यां पुनस्त्रेधा विभज्य च तदेकया । कटिशौचं पादशौचं विधायाचम्य च द्विधा

Transliteration

mṛdamanyāṃ punastredhā vibhajya ca tadekayā | kaṭiśaucaṃ pādaśaucaṃ vidhāyācamya ca dvidhā

Translation

随后再取一份洁净之土，再分为三份：以其中一份净洁腰部（下身），以另一份净洁双足。如此净化之后，再行两次阿遮摩那（ācamana）以作内净。

Word by Word

• मृदम्: clay
• मृदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्याम्: another
• अन्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; modifies मृदम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्ति-बोधक अव्यय (adverb)

• त्रेधा: threefold
• त्रेधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रेधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb) = 'in three parts/threefold'

• विभज्य: having divided
• विभज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (वि-), क्त्वान्त (absolutive) of √भज्; 'having divided'

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

• तत्-एकया: with one of those (parts)
• तत्-एकया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + एका (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (तासां मध्ये एकया); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• कटि-शौचम्: cleansing of the waist/hip region
• कटि-शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कटेः शौचम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाद-शौचम्: cleansing of the feet
• पाद-शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य शौचम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधाय: having performed
• विधाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (वि-), क्त्वान्त (absolutive) of √धा; 'having done/performed'

• आचम्य: having sipped (ācamana)
• आचम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चम् (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (आ-), क्त्वान्त (absolutive) of √चम्; 'having sipped (ācamana)'

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

• द्विधा: twice / in two ways
• द्विधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय = 'twofold/twice'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Reinforces bodily śauca as a means to reduce pāśa (impurity/bondage) and become fit for Śiva’s presence in worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that approaching Lord Shiva begins with both outer cleanliness and inner sanctification—purifying the body with earth and the mind through ācamana—so worship becomes fit for receiving Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is framed as a disciplined approach to Saguna Shiva: bodily purification and ācamana prepare the devotee to offer water, bilva, and mantra with steadiness and reverence, avoiding ritual impurity (aśauca) before the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical purification sequence: divide clean earth for cleansing (lower body and feet) and then perform ācamana twice, establishing readiness for Shiva-puja, japa (such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and dhyāna.