Shloka 13

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

यदेतद्द्रविणं नाम प्राणा ह्येते बहिश्चराः स तस्य हरते प्राणान् यो यस्य हरते धनम्

Transliteration

yadetaddraviṇaṃ nāma prāṇā hyete bahiścarāḥ sa tasya harate prāṇān yo yasya harate dhanam

Translation

What is called “wealth” is, in truth, one’s very prāṇa—the life-breath moving outward into the world. Therefore, whoever steals another’s property is said to steal that person’s prāṇa: depriving the paśu (bound soul) of the supports by which life is sustained, and thereby deepening pāśa (bondage) opposed to the law of Pati, Śiva.

Word by Word

• yat etat: this which

• draviṇam: wealth, property

• nāma: called, by name

• prāṇāḥ: life-breaths, vital forces

• hi: indeed

• ete: these

• bahiś-carāḥ: moving outward, functioning in external life

• saḥ: he

• tasya: of him, of that person

• harate: takes away, seizes

• prāṇān: the life-breaths

• yaḥ: who

• yasya: whose, of whom

• harate: steals, takes away

• dhanam: wealth, money, possessions

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s dharma teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames ethical purity as a foundation for Śiva-pūjā: stealing is treated as harming another’s prāṇa, so a devotee must uphold non-stealing and righteous livelihood to approach the Liṅga with inner and outer purity.

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

By implying Śiva as Pati—the Lord who upholds dharma—this verse shows that actions violating another being’s life-supports intensify pāśa (bondage), whereas alignment with dharma supports the soul’s movement toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights yama-like restraint (asteya, non-stealing) as a prerequisite for Pāśupata-oriented discipline; right conduct and dana (charity) purify the pashu so worship and mantra bear fruit.