Shloka 16

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

मैथुनस्याप्रवृत्तिर्हि मनोवाक्कायकर्मणा ब्रह्मचर्यमिति प्रोक्तं यतीनां ब्रह्मचारिणाम्

Transliteration

maithunasyāpravṛttirhi manovākkāyakarmaṇā brahmacaryamiti proktaṃ yatīnāṃ brahmacāriṇām

Translation

Para los yati (renunciantes) y los que guardan voto de continencia, se declara brahmacarya como la total no participación en la unión sexual—contenida en mente, palabra y acción corporal—para que el paśu afloje los lazos (pāśa) y se haga apto para la gracia de Pati, Śiva.

Word by Word

• मैथुनस्य (maithunasya): of sexual union

• अप्रवृत्तिः (apravṛttiḥ): non-engagement, abstention

• हि (hi): indeed

• मनोवाक्कायकर्मणा (manovāk-kāya-karmaṇā): by mind, speech, and bodily action

• ब्रह्मचर्यम् (brahmacaryam): brahmacarya, celibate discipline

• इति (iti): thus

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam): declared, taught

• यतीनाम् (yatīnām): of renunciates/ascetics

• ब्रह्मचारिणाम् (brahmacāriṇām): of brahmacārins, vowed celibates.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dharma teaching within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes inner purity as the foundation of worship: restraint of mind, speech, and body (especially regarding sexuality) makes the devotee fit to approach the Linga with sattva and receive Śiva’s grace.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—whose anugraha is accessed when the paśu reduces pāśa through disciplined conduct; brahmacarya is presented as a direct means of loosening bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Brahmacarya as a yogic vow in Pāśupata-oriented discipline: total abstention in thought, word, and deed, supporting tapas, mantra-japa, and steady meditation on Śiva.