Shloka 46

Adhyaya 89: शौचाचारलक्षणम् — सदाचार, भैक्ष्यचर्या, प्रायश्चित्त, द्रव्यशुद्धि, आशौच-निर्णय

Devanagari script

काकोलूककपोतानां पक्षिणामपि घातने शतमष्टोत्तरं जप्त्वा मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

kākolūkakapotānāṃ pakṣiṇāmapi ghātane śatamaṣṭottaraṃ japtvā mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

حتى لو قتلَ المرءُ طيورًا كالغِربان أو البُوم أو الحمام، فإنّه بعمل الجَپا (japa) مئةً وثماني مرّات من مانترا شيفا المقرّرة يتحرّر من ذلك القيد—ولا شكّ في ذلك.

Word by Word

• काक (kāka): crow

• उलूक (ulūka): owl

• कपोत (kapota): pigeon/dove

• -आनाम् (-ānām): of (plural, genitive)

• पक्षिणाम् (pakṣiṇām): of birds

• अपि (api): even/also

• घातने (ghātane): in the killing/slaying

• शतम् (śatam): one hundred

• अष्टोत्तरम् (aṣṭottaram): plus eight (i.e., 108)

• जप्त्वा (japtvā): having recited (as japa)

• मुच्यते (mucyate): is released/is liberated (from sin/bondage)

• नात्र (nātra): not here/in this matter (i.e., no)

• संशयः (saṃśayaḥ): doubt.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s prāyaścitta teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva-mantra japa (108 repetitions) as a direct purificatory discipline that removes pāśa (karmic bondage), making the worshipper fit for Linga-pūjā and restoring ritual-spiritual eligibility.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—whose mantra, when received and repeated with faith, can dissolve the binding effects of harmful karma and restore the pashu (individual soul) toward purity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa as prāyaścitta: repeating the prescribed Śiva-mantra 108 times as a Pāśupata-aligned purification practice to loosen karmic bonds and reorient the mind toward Śiva.