Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

अक्रोधो गुरुशुश्रूषा शौचमाहारलाघवम् नित्यं स्वाध्याय इत्येते नियमाः परिकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

akrodho guruśuśrūṣā śaucamāhāralāghavam nityaṃ svādhyāya ityete niyamāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Translation

Freedom from anger, devoted service to the Guru, purity, lightness in food, and daily svādhyāya (sacred study)—these are proclaimed as the niyamas for the Śaiva practitioner; by them the bound paśu becomes fit for the grace of Pati.

Word by Word

• अक्रोधः: absence of anger

• गुरु-शुश्रूषा: attentive service to the spiritual preceptor

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness (outer and inner)

• आहार-लाघवम्: moderation and lightness of diet

• नित्यम्: always/daily

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study/recitation of sacred texts and mantra

• इति: thus

• एते: these

• नियमाः: observances/disciplinary vows

• परिकीर्तिताः: declared/proclaimed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva disciplines to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the inner disciplines (niyamas) that make Linga-puja effective—purity, restraint, and Guru-centered practice refine the paśu so worship becomes a vessel for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

By implying Shiva as Pati, the liberating Lord: when anger and impurity (forms of pāśa) are reduced through niyama, the soul becomes receptive to Shiva-tattva as grace and illumination rather than mere ritual form.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pashupata-oriented niyama set: guru-śuśrūṣā (lineage discipline), śauca (purificatory conduct), āhāra-lāghava (dietary regulation), and nitya-svādhyāya (daily mantra/scriptural recitation) as the foundation for sadhana.