Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

संहतानां महाभागा द्रव्याणां प्रोक्षणं स्मृतम् असंहतानां द्रव्याणां प्रत्येकं शौचमुच्यते

Transliteration

saṃhatānāṃ mahābhāgā dravyāṇāṃ prokṣaṇaṃ smṛtam asaṃhatānāṃ dravyāṇāṃ pratyekaṃ śaucamucyate

Translation

Oh, afortunados: para las sustancias mantenidas juntas como un conjunto, se enseña la purificación mediante aspersión de agua consagrada; pero para las sustancias mantenidas separadas, se declara que la pureza debe asegurarse para cada una en particular.

Word by Word

• संहतानाम्: of things gathered together/in a bundle

• महाभागाः: O noble/blessed ones

• द्रव्याणाम्: of substances/material articles (ritual items)

• प्रोक्षणम्: sprinkling (with consecrated water)

• स्मृतम्: is remembered/declared (by tradition)

• असंहतानाम्: of things not gathered, separate

• द्रव्याणाम्: of substances

• प्रत्येकम्: individually, one by one

• शौचम्: purification/cleanliness/ritual purity

• उच्यते: is said/declared

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-ritual standards to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It gives a practical rule for shauca (ritual purity) of offerings and implements: grouped items are purified by prokṣaṇa (sprinkling), while separate items require individual purification—ensuring the dravya offered to the Linga is fit for Shiva-upachara.

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

Implicitly, it upholds Shiva as Pati (the Lord) approached through disciplined purity: the devotee (pashu) reduces pasha-like impurities by correct shauca, aligning outer action with inner sanctification before the presence of Mahadeva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritual practice: prokṣaṇa and item-wise shauca for puja materials. Yogic takeaway: cultivate order and purity (bahya-shauca supporting antaḥ-shauca) as a preparatory limb for steady Shiva-bhakti and Pashupata-oriented sadhana.