Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 69
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन नाचरेदशिवं व्रती । प्रमादात्तु तथाचारे निरूप्य गुरुलाघवे
bahunātra kimuktena nācaredaśivaṃ vratī | pramādāttu tathācāre nirūpya gurulāghave
وما فائدة الإكثار من القول هنا؟ إنَّ صاحبَ النذر (ڤراتا) لا ينبغي له أن يأتي بما هو مشؤوم ومخالفٌ لشِيفا. ولكن إن وقع مثلُ ذلك بسبب الغفلة، فعليه أن يميّز بين ما هو ثقيلٌ (ذنبٌ جسيم) وما هو خفيفٌ (ذنبٌ يسير)، ثم يمضي إلى التكفير والإصلاح بما يليق.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Emphasizes vrata-śuddhi: avoiding aśiva (adharmic/inauspicious) acts preserves the efficacy of Śiva-vrata; if a lapse occurs, discern gravity and restore purity through proper niṣkṛti.
FAQs
It teaches that Shaiva vows must align with Śiva’s auspicious dharma; if a lapse happens through pramāda (negligence), the seeker should honestly assess the severity and correct it through appropriate discipline, preserving purity of intention and steady devotion.
Linga-worship emphasizes śuddhi (purity), niyama (observance), and reverence for Śiva’s auspiciousness; this verse warns against actions that contradict that worship and points to restoring right conduct when mistakes occur.
It implies prayāścitta and renewed niyama: return to regular Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and disciplined observance—choosing the remedy according to whether the lapse is guru (grave) or lāghava (minor).