Shloka 174

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

मातृहा पितृहा चैव वीरहा भ्रूणहा तथा संवत्सरं क्रमाज्जप्त्वा त्रिसंध्यं शङ्कराश्रमे

Transliteration

mātṛhā pitṛhā caiva vīrahā bhrūṇahā tathā saṃvatsaraṃ kramājjaptvā trisaṃdhyaṃ śaṅkarāśrame

Translation

Even one who has slain a mother or a father, a hero, or an embryo—having performed the prescribed japa for a full year, in due order, at the three daily junctions (dawn, noon, and dusk) while dwelling in Śaṅkara’s āśrama—becomes purified through devotion to Pati (Śiva), as the bonds (pāśa) of grievous sin are cut by His mantra-discipline.

Word by Word

• मातृहा: slayer of one’s mother

• पितृहा: slayer of one’s father

• च एव: and indeed

• वीरहा: slayer of a hero/valiant person

• भ्रूणहा: slayer of an embryo (foeticide)

• तथा: likewise

• संवत्सरम्: for a year

• क्रमात्: in due sequence/according to rule

• जप्त्वा: having repeated (a mantra) as japa

• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: at the three sandhyās (dawn, noon, dusk)

• शङ्कर-आश्रमे: in Śaṅkara’s hermitage/within the discipline dedicated to Śaṅkara

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Śaiva prāyaścitta teaching within the Purva-bhāga discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

It frames severe sin as removable through disciplined Śiva-oriented practice—year-long mantra-japa at the three sandhyās—implying that turning to Pati (Śiva) via regulated sādhana is central to purification and eligibility for Śaiva worship.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord whose mantra and āśrama-discipline can sever pāśa (bondage) even when karmic impurity is extreme, highlighting His grace working through rule-bound practice.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Trisaṃdhyā mantra-japa for one full year, performed in proper order under Śaṅkara-āśrama discipline—an ascetic, Pāśupata-leaning regimen of daily regulated repetition as prāyaścitta.