Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

अष्टाब्दाद् एकरात्रेण शुद्धिः स्याद् बान्धवस्य तु द्वादशाब्दात्ततश्चार्वाक् त्रिरात्रं स्त्रीषु सुव्रताः

Transliteration

aṣṭābdād ekarātreṇa śuddhiḥ syād bāndhavasya tu dvādaśābdāttataścārvāk trirātraṃ strīṣu suvratāḥ

Translation

親族については、八歳を過ぎれば死の不浄からの清めは一夜で成就する。だが十二歳以後、善き誓願を守る女性（スヴラター suvratā）には、三夜の清めを守るべきである。

Word by Word

• अष्टाब्दात्: after eight years

• एकरात्रेण: by one night

• शुद्धिः: purification (ritual purity)

• स्यात्: is/should be

• बान्धवस्य: of a relative/kinsman

• तु: indeed

• द्वादशाब्दात्: after twelve years

• ततः: then/from that point

• च: and

• अर्वाक्: onward/thereafter

• त्रिरात्रम्: three nights

• स्त्रीषु: in the case of women

• सुव्रताः: those of good vows/virtuous women

Speaker

Suta Goswami

FAQs

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

It sets the minimum purification periods after bereavement, indicating when a devotee may properly return to Shiva-puja and Linga-archana without the बाधा (ritual obstruction) of ashauca.

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

Implicitly, it presents Shiva as Pati—the Lord approached through ordered dharma: purity disciplines regulate the devotee’s readiness to re-enter worship, so the pashu (bound soul) moves from disturbance toward sattvic steadiness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (niyama) regarding ashauca-shuddhi—observing one-night or three-night purification—so that Shiva-puja and related vows can be resumed in the proper state.