Shloka 19

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

त्रिरात्रमुपवासाश् च प्राणायामशतं तथा रात्रौ स्कन्नः शुचिः स्नात्वा द्वादशैव तु धारणा

Transliteration

trirātramupavāsāś ca prāṇāyāmaśataṃ tathā rātrau skannaḥ śuciḥ snātvā dvādaśaiva tu dhāraṇā

Translation

Debe guardarse ayuno (upavāsa) durante tres noches, y asimismo realizar cien prāṇāyāmas. Luego, por la noche—habiendo observado la contención prescrita, permaneciendo puro y tras bañarse—deben efectuarse doce dhāraṇās (concentraciones), como parte de la disciplina para el culto de Śiva.

Word by Word

• त्रिरात्रम्: for three nights

• उपवासाः: fasts/abstinences

• च: and

• प्राणायामशतम्: a hundred breath-regulations

• तथा: likewise

• रात्रौ: at night

• स्कन्नः: having observed restraint/kept the vow (contextual: disciplined, regulated)

• शुचिः: pure/clean

• स्नात्वा: having bathed

• द्वादश: twelve

• एव: indeed/only

• तु: and/then

• धारणा: concentration, fixing the mind (dhāraṇā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-vrata and yogic supports to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links external vrata (three-night fasting and purity) with internal upāsanā (prāṇāyāma and dhāraṇā), showing that Linga-pūjā is perfected when the pashu (individual soul) is disciplined and made fit to approach Pati (Shiva).

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

Shiva-tattva is approached not merely through offerings but through inner steadiness: breath regulation and one-pointed dhāraṇā purify pasha (bondage: restlessness, impurity) so the pashu may turn toward the ever-pure Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A combined vrata-yoga regimen: trirātra-upavāsa (three-night fast), prāṇāyāma-śata (100 breath cycles), ritual purity through bathing, and dvādaśa-dhāraṇā (twelve focused concentrations) supporting Shiva-pūjā in a Pāśupata-oriented discipline.