Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 49

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

तेषां पत्सिक्ततोयेन स्वशिरः स्नानमाचरेत् । षट्त्रिंशत्कोटितीर्थेषु सद्यः स्नानफलं लभेत्

Transliteration

teṣāṃ patsiktatoyena svaśiraḥ snānamācaret | ṣaṭtriṃśatkoṭitīrtheṣu sadyaḥ snānaphalaṃ labhet

Translation

以洗过他们足的净水，当自沐己顶。如此行之，即刻得如沐浴三十六俱胝诸圣地（tīrtha）之功德；以对湿婆圣众的虔敬，令心灵得以清净。

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• पात्: from the foot
• पात्: अपादान (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• सिक्त: sprinkled/poured
• सिक्त: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg) — ‘toya’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तोयेन: with water
• तोयेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्व: one’s own
• स्व: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable-like adjectival), ‘शिरः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• षट्त्रिंशत्: thirty-six
• षट्त्रिंशत्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (Numeral), अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग; ‘कोटि’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कोटि: crore
• कोटि: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपदभाव (as prior member in compound with tīrtha), संख्या-संबन्ध

• तीर्थेषु: in (all) pilgrimage places
• तीर्थेषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• स्नानफलम्: fruit/result of bathing
• स्नानफलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive tatpuruṣa: ‘स्नानस्य फलम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Revering Śiva’s holy ones (guru/bhaktas) through pādya/feet-washing water grants tīrtha-snāna merit and accelerates purification (mala-kṣaya) through bhakti.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that humble reverence to Śiva’s holy ones carries immense purifying power—so potent that it grants the same merit as bathing at countless tīrthas, emphasizing bhakti over mere travel or external display.

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

In Śaiva practice, honoring Śiva’s devotees is treated as honoring Śiva Himself (Saguna Śiva accessible through His community of worship). Such service supports inner purity, which is foundational for Linga-worship and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A devotional purification rite: respectfully taking the water used to wash the feet of Śiva’s revered devotees and bathing the head with it, while maintaining a contemplative attitude of surrender and purity.