Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

माल्यं च शयनस्थानं पात्रं छायां च यत्नतः यज्ञोपकरणाङ्गं च न स्पृशेद् वै पदेन च

Transliteration

mālyaṃ ca śayanasthānaṃ pātraṃ chāyāṃ ca yatnataḥ yajñopakaraṇāṅgaṃ ca na spṛśed vai padena ca

Translation

With due care, one should not touch with the foot garlands, the place prepared for resting, the ritual vessel, even another’s shadow, nor any limb or implement connected with sacrifice (yajña). Such restraint preserves the purity required for Śiva’s worship.

Word by Word

• माल्यम्: garland/flower-wreath

• च: and

• शयनस्थानम्: bed/resting place/seat for lying down

• पात्रम्: vessel/ritual container

• छायाम्: shadow

• च: and

• यत्नतः: carefully/with effort

• यज्ञोपकरण-अङ्गम्: a sacrificial implement or any accessory/limb of the rite

• च: and

• न: not

• स्पृशेत्: should touch

• वै: indeed

• पदेन: with the foot

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja conduct to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It defines a core rule of śaucācāra: avoiding contact with the foot—seen as ritually impure—with items and spaces dedicated to Śiva’s worship, safeguarding the sanctity (pavitrata) of the pūjā.

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

By stressing meticulous purity around offerings and ritual instruments, it implies Śiva as Pati—the supreme, all-pure consciousness—approached through disciplined reverence that loosens pasha (bondage) formed by negligence and disrespect.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical discipline of bodily restraint and attentiveness (niyama-like conduct) within pūjā—training the worshipper (pashu) to act with sacred awareness while handling yajña-upakaraṇas and Linga-pūjā materials.