Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

सशैवालं तथान्यैर्वा दोषैर्दुष्टं विवर्जयेत् च्लेअनिन्ग् ओफ़् च्लोथेस् वस्त्रशौचान्वितः कुर्यात् सर्वकार्याणि वै द्विजाः

Transliteration

saśaivālaṃ tathānyairvā doṣairduṣṭaṃ vivarjayet cleaning of clothes vastraśaucānvitaḥ kuryāt sarvakāryāṇi vai dvijāḥ

Translation

ليُطرح جانبًا كل ما تلوّث—سواء بشوائب كالعوالق والطحالب أو بغيرها من العيوب. يا ذوي الميلادين، من كان متحلّيًا بطهارة الثياب فليؤدِّ جميع الأعمال والطقوس—وخاصة ما يتصل بشيفا—في حالٍ من النظافة والطهارة.

Word by Word

• saśaivālam: with algae/filth

• tathā: likewise

• anyaiḥ: by other

• vā: or

• doṣaiḥ: by defects/impurities

• duṣṭam: contaminated/tainted

• vivarjayet: should avoid/discard

• vastra: garments/clothes

• śauca-anvitaḥ: possessed of cleanliness

• kuryāt: should do/perform

• sarva-kāryāṇi: all acts/rituals

• vai: indeed

• dvijāḥ: the twice-born (ritually initiated).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-dharma and śauca rules to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes śauca—especially clean clothing and avoidance of defiled materials—as a prerequisite for effective Liṅga-pūjā, aligning outer purity with inner devotional focus toward Pati (Śiva).

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

By insisting on purity before action, it implies that approach to Shiva-tattva requires refinement of the worshipper’s state; the pashu (soul) reduces pasha (impurity/bondage) through disciplined conduct while turning toward Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritual śauca (purity) as part of pūjā-vidhi—clean garments and rejection of contaminated items—supporting the Pāśupata-style discipline where external order reinforces inner steadiness.