Shloka 21

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

अभोज्यानि यतीनां तु प्रत्यक्षलवणानि च एकैकातिक्रमात्तेषां प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते

Transliteration

abhojyāni yatīnāṃ tu pratyakṣalavaṇāni ca ekaikātikramātteṣāṃ prāyaścittaṃ vidhīyate

Translation

لليَتيين أطعمةٌ محرّمة، ولا سيّما ما كان مملّحًا بملحٍ ظاهر الطعم. فإذا تجاوزوا واحدًا من هذه القيود شُرِعت لهم كفّارة (prāyaścitta) مناسبة.

Word by Word

• abhojyāni: foods that must not be eaten/forbidden foods

• yatīnām: of renunciants (ascetics)

• tu: indeed/and

• pratyakṣa-lavaṇāni: having salt that is directly perceptible (openly salted)

• ca: also

• ekaika-atikramāt: by violating even one (rule) individually

• teṣām: for them/of those (ascetics)

• prāyaścittam: expiation/atonement

• vidhīyate: is enjoined/is prescribed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dharma and prāyaścitta rules to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered Shaiva life as grounded in niyama (discipline): purity of food and restraint of taste support tapas, making the worshipper fit for Shiva-puja and inner absorption in Pati (Shiva).

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

Indirectly, it reflects Shiva as Pati—the pure Lord who is approached through purification and self-control; reducing sensory pull (pāśa) helps the paśu (individual soul) turn toward Shiva-tattva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ascetic dietary restraint as a yogic niyama, with prāyaścitta as the corrective rite when a vow is broken—supporting Pāśupata-style purification and steadiness of mind.