Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

पक्षिणी मातुलानां च सोदराणां च वा द्विजाः भूपानां मण्डलीनां च सद्यो नीराष्ट्रवासिनाम्

Transliteration

pakṣiṇī mātulānāṃ ca sodarāṇāṃ ca vā dvijāḥ bhūpānāṃ maṇḍalīnāṃ ca sadyo nīrāṣṭravāsinām

Translation

¡Oh, nacidos dos veces! Cuando un ave hembra se vuelve presagio funesto respecto de los tíos maternos (mātula) o de los propios hermanos, y asimismo respecto de reyes y gobernantes provinciales, ello indica que quienes habitan sin reino—privados de soberanía firme—pronto hallarán ruina y destierro. Tales señales surgen cuando el lazo (pāśa) del adharma se estrecha y el Señor, el Pati, retira de la tierra su orden protector.

Word by Word

• पक्षिणी: female bird/omen-bird

• मातुलानाम्: of maternal uncles

• च: and

• सोदराणाम्: of uterine brothers/own brothers

• च: and

• वा: or

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)

• भूपानाम्: of kings

• मण्डलीनां च: and of regional rulers/mandalikas

• सद्यः: immediately, swiftly

• नीराष्ट्रवासिनाम्: of those living without a kingdom/state (dispossessed/exiled)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It frames social and political instability as a dharmic consequence: when Shiva (Pati) is not honoured and adharma increases, ominous signs arise and protection over the realm diminishes, urging rulers to restore order through Shiva-centered dharma and worship.

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

Implicitly, Shiva-tattva is the sustaining sovereignty behind cosmic and civic order: when His grace supports dharma, the land is stable; when pāśa (bondage born of adharma) dominates, beings (paśu) experience loss, exile, and collapse of worldly supports.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is named; the takeaway is nimitta-awareness and corrective dharma—propitiatory Shiva-pūjā, purification, and disciplined conduct aligned with Pāśupata/Shaiva ethics to avert decline.