Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे ऽणिमाद्यष्टसिद्धित्रिगुणसंसारप्राग्नौ होमादिवर्णनं नामाष्टाशीतितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि शौचाचारस्य लक्षणम् यदनुष्ठाय शुद्धात्मा परेत्य गतिमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge 'ṇimādyaṣṭasiddhitriguṇasaṃsāraprāgnau homādivarṇanaṃ nāmāṣṭāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca ata ūrdhvaṃ pravakṣyāmi śaucācārasya lakṣaṇam yadanuṣṭhāya śuddhātmā paretya gatimāpnuyāt

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, begins the eighty-ninth chapter, called “The description of offerings such as homa into the fire that precedes the saṃsāra of the three guṇas, together with the eight siddhis beginning with aṇimā.” Sūta said: “Now I shall explain the defining marks of śaucācāra, the discipline of purity; by practising it, the self becomes purified, and after death attains the true gati, moving toward liberation under the Lord, Pati (Śiva).”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• aṇimā-ādya-aṣṭa-siddhi: the eight yogic attainments beginning with aṇimā

• triguṇa-saṃsāra: transmigratory existence governed by the three guṇas

• prāk-agnau: in the prior/preceding fire (the preparatory rite-fire)

• homa-ādi-varṇanam: description of homa and related rites

• nāma: named/called

• aṣṭāśītitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the eighty-ninth chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• ata ūrdhvam: henceforth/now onward

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall declare

• śauca-ācārasya: of the conduct of purity

• lakṣaṇam: characteristics/definition

• yat: which

• anuṣṭhāya: having practised/undertaken

• śuddha-ātmā: one whose inner self is purified

• paretya: after departing (after death)

• gatim: the destined path/state (higher spiritual attainment)

• āpnuyāt: may attain.

Speaker

Sūta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni

FAQs

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

It frames purity (śaucācāra) as a prerequisite for effective Śiva-upāsanā, implying that external rites like homa and internal cleanliness together refine the pashu (soul) for approaching Pati (Śiva) through Liṅga worship.

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

By contrasting triguṇa-saṃsāra with the “gati” attained through purification, it implies Śiva-tattva as beyond the guṇas and the cycles of bondage (pāśa), the liberating goal toward which the purified self moves.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śaucācāra (disciplined purity) is highlighted as the foundational sādhana; it supports ritual acts such as homa and prepares the aspirant for Pāśupata-aligned purification leading to a higher post-mortem gati.