Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

पातकी च तदर्धेन शुध्यते वृत्तवान्यदि उपपातकिनः सर्वे तदर्धेनैव सुव्रताः

Transliteration

pātakī ca tadardhena śudhyate vṛttavānyadi upapātakinaḥ sarve tadardhenaiva suvratāḥ

Translation

പാപി സദാചാരത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരനായാൽ, നിർദ്ദേശിച്ച പ്രായശ്ചിത്തത്തിന്റെ പകുതിയാൽ പോലും അവൻ ശുദ്ധനാകുന്നു. ഹേ സുവ്രതന്മാരേ, എല്ലാ ഉപപാതകികളും (ലഘു അപരാധികൾ) അതേ പകുതിയാൽ തന്നെ ശുദ്ധരാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• पातकी: a grievous sinner

• च: and

• तदर्धेन: by half of that (expiation/penance)

• शुध्यते: becomes purified

• वृत्तवान्: endowed with proper conduct/right livelihood

• यदि: if

• उपपातकिनः: minor sinners/secondary offenders

• सर्वे: all

• तदर्धेन एव: by that half alone

• सुव्रताः: O virtuous ones / O you of good vows

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer expiation becomes more effective when joined with inner dharmic conduct—supporting the Shaiva view that Linga-puja must be accompanied by śīla (right living) for genuine purification.

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

By implying purification is not merely mechanical, it aligns with Shiva as Pati who loosens pasha (bondage) when the pashu (soul) turns toward disciplined conduct and worship, making grace and practice converge.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāyaścitta supported by vrata and ācāra—an ethic central to Pāśupata-oriented discipline where restraint, truthful living, and regulated vows amplify the cleansing power of ritual.