Shloka 17

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

न हन्तव्याः सदा पूज्याः पापकर्मरता अपि पवित्रास्तु स्त्रियः सर्वा अत्रेश् च कुलसंभवाः

Transliteration

na hantavyāḥ sadā pūjyāḥ pāpakarmaratā api pavitrāstu striyaḥ sarvā atreś ca kulasaṃbhavāḥ

Translation

സ്ത്രീകളെ ഒരിക്കലും കൊല്ലരുത്; പാപകർമ്മത്തിൽ ഏർപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നാലും അവർ എപ്പോഴും പൂജ്യരാണ്. ഇവിടെ എല്ലാ സ്ത്രീകളും പവിത്രരാണെന്ന് പറയുന്നു, കാരണം അവർ അത്രി കുലത്തിൽ ജനിച്ചവരായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• na: not

• hantavyāḥ: to be killed/should be slain

• sadā: always

• pūjyāḥ: worthy of worship/honor

• pāpa: sinful

• karma: actions

• ratāḥ: engaged/attached

• api: even

• pavitrāḥ: pure/sanctified

• tu: indeed/and

• striyaḥ: women

• sarvāḥ: all

• atreḥ: of Atri

• ca: and

• kula: lineage/family

• sambhavāḥ: born/originating

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating dharma-teachings within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Atri

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva-bhakti as inseparable from dharmic restraint: honoring the feminine and practicing non-violence purify the pashu (individual soul) and reduce pasha (bondage), making worship fit to approach Pati (Shiva).

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

By mandating honor and non-harm, the verse reflects Shiva-tattva as auspiciousness (śivam) expressed through compassion and reverence—devotion is validated by ethical conduct, not merely ritual.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights yama-like foundations (ahiṃsā, reverence, self-restraint) that support Pashupata-oriented discipline; without these, puja and mantra-japa lack the inner purity expected in Shaiva sādhanā.