Linga Purana 1.89.64 — Purva Bhaga, Adhyaya 89, Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

अभुक्तराशिधान्यानाम् एकदेशस्य दूषणे तावन्मात्रं समुद्धृत्य प्रोक्षयेद्वै कुशांभसा

Transliteration

abhuktarāśidhānyānām ekadeśasya dūṣaṇe tāvanmātraṃ samuddhṛtya prokṣayedvai kuśāṃbhasā

Translation

Wenn in einem Haufen unbenutzten Getreides nur ein Teil verunreinigt wird, soll man nur diese Menge entfernen; dann reinige man den Rest, indem man ihn mit durch Kuśa-Gras geheiligtem Wasser besprengt, damit die Gabe für Śivas Verehrung tauglich bleibt.

Word by Word

• abhukta-rāśi-dhānyānām: of heaps of uneaten/unused grains

• eka-deśasya: of one part/portion

• dūṣaṇe: when defilement/contamination occurs

• tāvat-mātram: only that much (extent)

• samuddhṛtya: having taken out/removed

• prokṣayet: one should sprinkle (for purification)

• vai: indeed

• kuśa-ambhasā: with water (made ritually pure) by kuśa grass

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva-pūjā and śuddhi-vidhi to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches dravya-śuddhi (purity of ritual substances): when only a part is contaminated, remove only the tainted portion and ritually purify the rest with kuśa-sanctified water so the offering remains suitable for Śiva-Liṅga pūjā.

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

By insisting on careful purification before offering, it reflects Śiva as Pati—the supremely pure Lord—approached through disciplined śuddhi, where outer cleanliness supports the seeker’s inner purification from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical pūjā-vidhi: selective removal of the defiled portion and prokṣaṇa (sprinkling) with kuśodaka (kuśa-purified water), aligning external ritual order with the aspirant’s inner purity conducive to Pāśupata-oriented discipline.