Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

दुरतिओन् ओफ़् देफ़िलेमेन्त् सूतकं प्रेतकं नास्ति त्र्यहाद् ऊर्ध्वम् अमुत्र वै अर्वाग् एकादशाहान्तं बान्धवानां द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

duration of defilement sūtakaṃ pretakaṃ nāsti tryahād ūrdhvam amutra vai arvāg ekādaśāhāntaṃ bāndhavānāṃ dvijottamāḥ

Translation

O ihr Besten unter den Dvija: Die Unreinheit durch Geburt (sūtaka) oder Tod (pretaka) währt in der jenseitigen Welt nicht über drei Tage hinaus; für die Verwandten hier jedoch wird sie bis zu elf Tagen beachtet.

Word by Word

• sūtakam: birth-impurity (āśauca)

• pretakam: death-impurity (āśauca)

• nāsti: does not exist/does not remain

• tryahāt: beyond three days

• ūrdhvam: above, after

• amutra: there, in the other world

• vai: indeed

• arvāk: here, on this side (in this world)

• ekādaśa-ahāntam: until eleven days

• bāndhavānām: of relatives/kinsmen

• dvijottamāḥ: O best among the twice-born (Brāhmaṇas).

Speaker

Suta Goswami

FAQs

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

It sets the dharmic boundary for ritual eligibility: during sūtaka/pretaka one regulates or postpones formal acts of Linga-pūjā, preserving śauca (purity) as a support for disciplined devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

Indirectly, it implies Śiva-tattva is untouched by impurity (nirdoṣa), while the pashu (embodied soul) follows purificatory observances to remove pasha-like constraints and approach worship with steadiness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (niyama) regarding āśauca—observing the prescribed time-limits for sūtaka/pretaka before resuming full temple or household worship, japa, and offerings.