Shloka 38
गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्
Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship
ऋषय ऊचुः । मुखं न दर्शनीयं ते गम्यतां गम्यतामिति । दृष्ट्वा गोघ्नमुखं सद्यस्सचैलं स्नानमाचरेत्
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | mukhaṃ na darśanīyaṃ te gamyatāṃ gamyatāmiti | dṛṣṭvā goghnamukhaṃ sadyassacailaṃ snānamācaret
The sages said: “Your face should not be shown—go away, go away!” Having seen the face of a killer of a cow, one should immediately perform a purificatory bath even with one’s clothes on.
The sages (ṛṣis), addressing an offender (implied cow-killer) within the Kotirudra Saṃhitā narrative
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It stresses śauca (purity) as a prerequisite for auspicious darśana and worship: grave sin (like gohatyā) creates strong impurity, and immediate purification is advised before approaching sacred space or Shiva’s worship.
In Jyotirlinga-centered practice (Kotirudra Saṃhitā), external discipline supports inner devotion; the verse implies that one should not bring severe impurity into the sphere of Saguna Shiva’s temple-darśana and liṅga-pūjā without first performing purificatory acts.
A prompt purificatory bath (snāna)—even ‘with clothes on’ as an emergency measure—is prescribed; the takeaway is to restore ritual fitness before mantra-japa, liṅga-darśana, or pilgrimage worship.