Shloka 13

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

अथवा देवपित्रार्षतीर्थावतरणं विना । सप्त वा पंच वा त्रीन्वा गुदं संशोधयेन्मृदा

Transliteration

athavā devapitrārṣatīrthāvataraṇaṃ vinā | sapta vā paṃca vā trīnvā gudaṃ saṃśodhayenmṛdā

Translation

或者，即便不至于诸天、祖灵（Pitṛ）或圣仙（Ṛṣi）所系之圣水渡口（tīrtha），亦当以土净拭肛门之处：七次，或五次，或三次。

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• देव-पितृ-आर्ष-तीर्थ-अवतरणम्: descent/immersion in sacred waters (of gods, ancestors, and sages)
• देव-पितृ-आर्ष-तीर्थ-अवतरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ pitṝṇām ārṣāṇāṃ tīrthānām avataraṇam = descending/entering sacred waters of gods, ancestors, and ṛṣis)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: वर्जनार्थक अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिकरूपेण; (count)

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिकरूपेण

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• गुदम्: the anus
• गुदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• संशोधयेत्: should cleanse
• संशोधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-शुध्/शोध (धातु; causative from √शुध्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative): ‘should cleanse/purify’

• मृदा: with earth/clay
• मृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śauca (purity) as a supportive discipline for Shiva worship—outer cleanliness steadies the mind and senses so devotion can be offered with focus and reverence to Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga worship in the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara context is presented as a precise pūjā-vidhi; bodily purity is part of approaching Saguna Shiva’s worship-form with proper preparation and respect.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical rule of cleansing using earth (mṛd) when holy water is not available, indicating preparatory purification before commencing japa, dhyāna, or Linga pūjā.