Shloka 1

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे सदाचारकथनं नामैकोननवतितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि यतीनामिह निश्चितम् प्रायश्चित्तं शिवप्रोक्तं यतीनां पापशोधनम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge sadācārakathanaṃ nāmaikonanavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca ata ūrdhvaṃ pravakṣyāmi yatīnāmiha niścitam prāyaścittaṃ śivaproktaṃ yatīnāṃ pāpaśodhanam

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, ends the eighty-ninth chapter called “The Teaching of Right Conduct (Sadācāra).” Sūta said: “Now I shall expound the settled discipline here—the prāyaścitta (atonements) for ascetics (yatīs), taught by Śiva, by which the sins of renunciants are purified.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

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

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

• sadācāra-kathanaṃ nāma: named ‘account/teaching of right conduct’

• ekona-navatitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the eighty-ninth chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• ataḥ ūrdhvam: henceforth/now onward

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain

• yatīnām: of ascetics/renunciants

• iha: here (in this teaching)

• niścitam: definite/settled/authoritative

• prāyaścittam: expiation/atonement

• śiva-proktam: spoken by Śiva

• yatīnām pāpa-śodhanam: purification of the sins of ascetics

Speaker

Sūta (Sūta Gosvāmin)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Suta

FAQs

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

It introduces Śiva-taught purification (prāyaścitta) for renunciants, implying that inner purity and right conduct are prerequisites for effective Śiva-bhakti and Liṅga-centered worship.

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

Śiva is presented as the authoritative Pati (Lord and liberator) who prescribes means to cleanse the paśu (soul) from pāpa—an expression of His role as the giver of śuddhi (purification) that loosens pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāyaścitta for yatīs is highlighted—disciplinary expiation and purification practices aligned with Shaiva restraints and inner cleansing, supportive of Pāśupata-style self-regulation and sādhana.