Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 119

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

Devanagari script

चरेद्यदि भवेन्नारी पुमांसं दक्षिणे लभेत् स्त्रीणां मैथुनकाले तु पापग्रहविवर्जिते

Transliteration

caredyadi bhavennārī pumāṃsaṃ dakṣiṇe labhet strīṇāṃ maithunakāle tu pāpagrahavivarjite

Translation

If, during the woman’s fertile movement, the man’s seed is placed on the right side, a son is obtained—especially when union occurs at a time free from inauspicious planetary influences. In such regulated conception, the paśu (embodied soul) enters a body under cleaner pāśa (bondage), becoming more fit for later Śiva-sādhana directed to the Pati, Lord Mahādeva.

Word by Word

• चरेत् (cared): moves/acts (in the fertile course)

• यदि (yadi): if

• भवेत् (bhavet): should be/occurs

• नारी (nārī): woman

• पुमांसम् (pumāṁsam): male (seed/issue)

• दक्षिणे (dakṣiṇe): on the right side

• लभेत् (labhet): obtains/attains

• स्त्रीणाम् (strīṇām): of women

• मैथुनकाले (maithuna-kāle): at the time of sexual union

• तु (tu): indeed

• पापग्रहविवर्जिते (pāpa-graha-vivarjite): devoid of sinful/inauspicious planets (unafflicted by malefic grahas).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic injunctions to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links dharmic timing and bodily discipline to spiritual fitness—suggesting that purity of kāla (time) and niyama supports a life more capable of Linga-centered Shiva-sadhana.

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

Implicitly, Shiva is the Pati beyond grahas and karmic afflictions; by reducing inauspicious conditions at conception, the pashu’s embodied life becomes less obstructed in turning toward the Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Auspicious-time observance (kāla-śuddhi) using jyotiṣa considerations—avoiding pāpa-graha influence—functioning as a samskāra that supports later Shaiva vrata, japa, and Pāśupata-oriented discipline.