Shloka 9

आचार्य-धर्मलक्षण-श्रद्धाभक्तिप्राधान्यं तथा लिङ्गे ध्यान-पूजाविधानसंकेतः

Adhyaya 10

Devanagari script

क्रियाणां साधनाच्चैव गृहस्थः साधुरुच्यते साधनात्तपसो ऽरण्ये साधुर्वैखानसः स्मृतः

Transliteration

kriyāṇāṃ sādhanāccaiva gṛhasthaḥ sādhurucyate sādhanāttapaso 'raṇye sādhurvaikhānasaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

বিধিবদ্ধ ক্রিয়া ও কর্তব্য যথাযথ সাধন করলে গৃহস্থ ‘সাধু’ নামে অভিহিত হয়। আর অরণ্যে তপস্যার নিয়মিত সাধনে বৈখানস তপস্বীও ‘সাধু’ বলে স্মৃত।

Word by Word

• क्रियाणाम्: of prescribed actions/rites (kriyā)

• साधनात्: by accomplishment, by disciplined practice

• च एव: and indeed

• गृहस्थः: the householder

• साधुः: a good/virtuous person, a sādhū

• उच्यते: is said to be

• साधनात्: by accomplishment

• तपसः: of austerity (tapas)

• अरण्ये: in the forest

• साधुः: a sādhū

• वैखानसः: a Vaikhānasa forest-dwelling ascetic

• स्मृतः: is remembered/declared (in tradition).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered devotion as compatible with multiple āśramas: the gṛhastha perfects worship through kriyā (ritual duty), while the forest-ascetic perfects it through tapas—both become sādhū by disciplined sādhanā directed to Pati (Shiva).

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the one Pati who sanctifies diverse paths: whether through Vedic-ritual action or renunciant austerity, sincerity and disciplined means purify the paśu (soul) from pāśa (bondage) when oriented to Mahādeva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Two complementary disciplines are highlighted: kriyā-sādhanā (performance of prescribed rites, suitable for householders) and tapas-sādhanā (austerity and restraint in the forest, characteristic of Vaikhānasa ascetics), both aligned with Shaiva dharma.