Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

देवद्रोहगुरुद्रोहात् कोटिमात्रेण शुध्यति महापातकशुद्ध्यर्थं तथैव च यथाविधि

Transliteration

devadrohagurudrohāt koṭimātreṇa śudhyati mahāpātakaśuddhyarthaṃ tathaiva ca yathāvidhi

Translation

દેવદ્રોહ અને ગુરુદ્રોહ જેવા ગંભીર અપરાધથી ‘કોટિ’ પ્રમાણ (અતિ વિશાળ સંખ્યા)ના નિર્ધારિત પ્રાયશ્ચિત્તથી શુદ્ધિ થાય છે. તેમ જ મહાપાતકોની શુદ્ધિ માટે પણ યથાવિધિ નિયમ મુજબ જ ક્રિયા કરવી।

Word by Word

• देवद्रोह (devadroha): hostility/treachery toward the Devas

• गुरुद्रोहात् (gurudrohāt): from betraying the Guru

• कोटिमात्रेण (koṭimātreṇa): by a koṭi measure/through an immense number

• शुध्यति (śudhyati): is purified

• महापातकशुद्ध्यर्थम् (mahāpātaka-śuddhyartham): for the purpose of purifying great sins

• तथैव (tathaiva): in the same manner/likewise

• च (ca): and

• यथाविधि (yathāvidhi): according to the proper injunction/rite.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating prescribed expiations within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Guru

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shaiva purification is not casual: even after serious transgressions like devadroha or gurudroha, cleansing is approached through large-scale, rule-bound prayashchitta performed yathāvidhi—supporting the integrity required for effective Linga-puja.

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

Implicitly, it presents Shiva’s order (vidhi) as a precise dharmic framework where pāśa (bondage through sin) can be attenuated by disciplined action; purification becomes possible when the pashu aligns conduct with the ordained path that leads toward Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāyaścitta performed in great measure (koṭi-mātra) and strictly according to injunction (yathāvidhi), forming the ethical-ritual foundation that supports Pashupata-oriented discipline and eligibility for deeper Shiva-upāsanā.