Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

यूपं चाण्डालकाद्यांश् च स्पृष्ट्वा स्नानेन शुध्यति रजस्वलां सूतिकां च न स्पृशेदन्त्यजामपि

Transliteration

yūpaṃ cāṇḍālakādyāṃś ca spṛṣṭvā snānena śudhyati rajasvalāṃ sūtikāṃ ca na spṛśedantyajāmapi

Translation

Tras tocar el yūpa (poste sacrificial) o a personas como un Caṇḍāla y semejantes, uno se purifica mediante el baño. Pero no debe tocarse a una mujer menstruante, ni a una mujer en impureza posparto, ni siquiera a una mujer considerada antyaja; pues tal contacto se tiene por obstáculo para la pureza ritual en el culto y las observancias de Śiva.

Word by Word

• yūpam: sacrificial post

• ca: and

• cāṇḍālaka-ādyān: Caṇḍālas and others of similar status

• spṛṣṭvā: having touched

• snānena: by bathing

• śudhyati: becomes purified

• rajasvalām: a menstruating woman

• sūtikām: a woman in childbirth/postpartum state

• ca: and

• na: not

• spṛśet: should touch

• antyajām: an outcaste woman

• api: even/also

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It codifies sparśa-doṣa (impurity by touch) and its remedies, showing that Śiva-pūjā requires śauca; some contacts are purified by snāna, while others are to be avoided to prevent interruption of worship and vrata.

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

Indirectly, it presents Śiva as Pati whose worship is approached through disciplined conduct; purity rules function as supports for steadiness of mind and ritual order while the devotee seeks Śiva’s grace that liberates the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śauca as a foundational observance: purification by bathing after certain contact, and avoidance of specific states considered ritually obstructive—supporting consistent pūjā and vrata within Śaiva/Pāśupata discipline.