Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा च मैथुनं स्पृष्ट्वा पतितं कुक्कुटादिकम् सूकरं चैव काकादि श्वानमुष्ट्रं खरं तथा

Transliteration

kṛtvā ca maithunaṃ spṛṣṭvā patitaṃ kukkuṭādikam sūkaraṃ caiva kākādi śvānamuṣṭraṃ kharaṃ tathā

Translation

بعد الجماع، أو بعد لمسِ ساقطٍ في النجاسة (پَتِيتا)، أو عند ملامسة الدجاج ونحوه، والخنزير، والغراب ونحوه، والكلب، والجمل، وكذلك الحمار—يتلطّخ المرء بالنجاسة؛ فعليه أن يلتزم بآداب التطهير اللائقة قبل الشروع في عبادة شيفا وتوقير حقيقة اللينغا (Linga-tattva).

Word by Word

• kṛtvā: having done

• ca: and

• maithunam: sexual intercourse

• spṛṣṭvā: having touched

• patitam: a fallen/impure person (one who has lapsed from purity)

• kukkuṭa-ādikam: a cock/fowl and similar creatures

• sūkaram: a pig/boar (as impure in ritual contexts)

• ca eva: and indeed/also

• kāka-ādi: a crow and similar creatures

• śvānām: a dog

• uṣṭram: a camel

• kharam: a donkey

• tathā: likewise/also

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, conveying śāstraic rules of purity relevant to Śiva-pūjā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sets a śauca (ritual purity) boundary: before approaching the Liṅga for pūjā, one should remove aśauca arising from certain bodily acts and contacts, so the worship is performed with disciplined purity and focused bhakti.

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

Indirectly, it presents Śiva as Pati—the supremely pure Lord—whose worship calls the pashu (bound soul) to rise above pasha-like impurities through self-regulation, purification, and right conduct.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śauca and prāyaścitta: maintaining purity through prescribed cleansing/discipline before Śiva-pūjā, aligning the body-mind as a fit vessel for Pāśupata-oriented worship and inner steadiness.