Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

पादौ स्पृशन्ति ये चापि पराचमनबिन्दवः ते पार्थिवैः समा ज्ञेया न तैरप्रयतो भवेत्

Transliteration

pādau spṛśanti ye cāpi parācamanabindavaḥ te pārthivaiḥ samā jñeyā na tairaprayato bhavet

Translation

ആചമനത്തിന് ശേഷം അനായാസം കാലുകളെ സ്പർശിക്കുന്ന തുള്ളികൾ ഭൂമിയോടു സമം (തടസ്ഥം) എന്നു അറിയണം; അതിനാൽ അവ കാരണം അശ്രദ്ധനാകാതെ ശൗചത്തിൽ ജാഗ്രത പാലിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पादौ (pādau): the feet

• स्पृशन्ति (spṛśanti): touch

• ये (ye): which

• च अपि (ca api): and even

• पराचमन-बिन्दवः (parācamanabindavaḥ): droplets of (water used for) rinsing after sipping/ācamanā

• ते (te): those

• पार्थिवैः (pārthivaiḥ): with earth/earthen (matter)

• समा (samā): equal

• ज्ञेया (jñeyā): are to be understood/considered

• न (na): not

• तैः (taiḥ): by/with those

• अप्रयतः (aprayataḥ): careless, inattentive

• भवेत् (bhavet): should become

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sets a practical purity rule: droplets from ācamanā that fall and touch the feet are treated as earth-like (ritually neutral/impure), so the worshipper should maintain careful śauca rather than assuming everything remains sanctified.

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

Indirectly, it implies that approaching Pati (Śiva) through Linga-pūjā requires disciplined conduct: purity and attentiveness refine the pashu (individual soul) and loosen pasha (bondage) through regulated worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ācamanā and śauca as part of puja-vidhi, emphasizing apramāda (non-carelessness)—a yogic discipline aligned with Pāśupata-oriented restraint and mindful ritual action.