Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

अक्रोधो गुरुशुश्रूषा शौचमाहारलाघवम् नित्यं स्वाध्याय इत्येते नियमाः परिकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

akrodho guruśuśrūṣā śaucamāhāralāghavam nityaṃ svādhyāya ityete niyamāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Translation

अक्रोध, गुरु-शुश्रूषा, शौच, आहार में लाघव और नित्य स्वाध्याय—ये नियम कहे गए हैं; इनके द्वारा पशु (बद्ध जीव) पति (शिव) की अनुग्रह-योग्यता पाता है।

Word by Word

• अक्रोधः: absence of anger

• गुरु-शुश्रूषा: attentive service to the spiritual preceptor

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness (outer and inner)

• आहार-लाघवम्: moderation and lightness of diet

• नित्यम्: always/daily

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study/recitation of sacred texts and mantra

• इति: thus

• एते: these

• नियमाः: observances/disciplinary vows

• परिकीर्तिताः: declared/proclaimed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva disciplines to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the inner disciplines (niyamas) that make Linga-puja effective—purity, restraint, and Guru-centered practice refine the paśu so worship becomes a vessel for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

By implying Shiva as Pati, the liberating Lord: when anger and impurity (forms of pāśa) are reduced through niyama, the soul becomes receptive to Shiva-tattva as grace and illumination rather than mere ritual form.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pashupata-oriented niyama set: guru-śuśrūṣā (lineage discipline), śauca (purificatory conduct), āhāra-lāghava (dietary regulation), and nitya-svādhyāya (daily mantra/scriptural recitation) as the foundation for sadhana.