Shloka 5

लिङ्गार्चनपूर्वकं स्नानाचमनविधिः

Snana–Achamana as Preparation for Linga-Archana

Devanagari script

स्नानयोगोपचारं च यथा शैलादिनो मुखात् श्रुतवान् तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि स्नानाद्यं चार्चनाविधिम्

Transliteration

snānayogopacāraṃ ca yathā śailādino mukhāt śrutavān tatpravakṣyāmi snānādyaṃ cārcanāvidhim

Translation

ولمّا سمعتُ من فمِ شَيْلادي أصولَ الانضباطِ في الاغتسالِ الطقسيّ على وجهه الصحيح، فسأبيّن الآن ذلك الإجراء بعينه—ابتداءً من الاغتسال—وكذلك المنهجَ الكاملَ للعبادة (أرشَنا) للِّنگا شيفا، ذلك الـپَتي الذي يفكُّ رباطَ (پاشا) الـپَشو، أي الروحِ المقيّدة.

Word by Word

• snāna: ritual bath

• yoga-upacāram: yogic discipline and attendant observances (upacāras)

• ca: and

• yathā: as/according to

• śailādinaḥ: of Śailādi (the teacher named Śailādi)

• mukhāt: from the mouth (i.e., from direct instruction)

• śrutavān: having heard

• tat: that

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall declare/explain

• snāna-ādyam: beginning with bathing

• ca: and

• arcana-vidhim: the method/procedure of worship (arcana).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages; citing instruction received from Śailādi)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Śailādi

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It functions as a transition into the practical manual of Śiva-liṅga worship, stating that the worship method begins with snāna (purificatory bathing) and proceeds through arcana (formal offerings).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By framing the worship as a disciplined yoga of observances, it implies Śiva as Pati—the Lord approached through purity and right method—who grants release to the paśu from pāśa when worship is performed with proper vidhi.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Snāna-yoga-upacāra: the purificatory bathing regimen and allied upacāras that prepare the sādhaka for liṅga-arcana, aligning ritual purity with inner yogic discipline.