Shloka 2
उपलेपनादिकथनम्
Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship
आपः पूता भवन्त्येता वस्त्रपूताः समुद्धृताः अफेना मुनिशार्दूला नादेयाश् च विशेषतः
āpaḥ pūtā bhavantyetā vastrapūtāḥ samuddhṛtāḥ aphenā muniśārdūlā nādeyāś ca viśeṣataḥ
O tiger-like sages, these waters become purified when drawn up and filtered through cloth; they should be free from foam, and river-water in particular is regarded as especially fit—thus is the water made worthy for Śiva’s worship.
Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva-pūjā-vidhi to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
FAQs
It sets a core rule of dravya-śuddhi (purity of offering): water for abhiṣeka and pūjā should be properly collected and cloth-filtered, ideally river-water, so the worship offered to Pati (Śiva) is ritually fit.
By insisting on purified water, the verse reflects Śiva-tattva as the supreme Pati who is approached through disciplined purity and right method; the pious act of śuddhi refines the pashu’s (soul’s) intention and aligns it toward liberation from pāśa (bondage).
A practical pūjā-vidhi instruction for liṅga-abhiṣeka: use foamless, cloth-filtered water—preferably river-water—emphasizing external purity that supports inner yogic purity in Pāśupata-oriented Śaiva practice.