Shloka 109

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्थ्यां स्त्री न गम्या तु गतो ऽल्पायुः प्रसूयते विद्याहीनं व्रतभ्रष्टं पतितं पारदारिकम्

Transliteration

caturthyāṃ strī na gamyā tu gato 'lpāyuḥ prasūyate vidyāhīnaṃ vratabhraṣṭaṃ patitaṃ pāradārikam

Translation

Am vierten Mondtag (Caturthī) soll man sich einer Frau nicht zur geschlechtlichen Vereinigung nähern. Aus solcher Übertretung, so heißt es, entsteht Nachkommenschaft von kurzer Lebensdauer—ohne rechtes Wissen, von Gelübden abgefallen, erniedrigt und zur Frau eines anderen geneigt—und so werden die Fesseln des pāśa gestärkt, die den paśu auf dem Weg zu Pati, Śiva, hemmen.

Word by Word

• चतुर्थ्याम् (caturthyām): on the Caturthī tithi (fourth lunar day)

• स्त्री (strī): a woman

• न (na): not

• गम्या (gamyā): to be approached/visited (sexually)

• तु (tu): indeed

• गतः (gataḥ): having gone/engaged (in the act)

• अल्पायुः (alpāyuḥ): short-lived

• प्रसूयते (prasūyate): is born/is produced

• विद्याहीनम् (vidyā-hīnam): devoid of true knowledge/learning

• व्रतभ्रष्टम् (vrata-bhraṣṭam): fallen from vows/discipline

• पतितम् (patitam): fallen/degraded

• पारदारिकम् (pāradārikam): one who seeks another’s wife/adulterous

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional dharma-niyamas within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames sexual restraint on specific tithis as a supporting limb (aṅga) of Śiva-pūjā and vrata, protecting ritual purity and steadiness of mind for Linga-upāsanā.

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

By implication, Śiva as Pati is the liberating Lord, while violations of niyama intensify pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul), delaying fitness for Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vrata-based brahmacarya (sexual restraint) aligned to lunar tithis—an ethical discipline that supports Pāśupata-oriented purification and steadiness for Śiva-pūjā.