Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi
सदावगाह्य सलिले विशुद्धाः किं द्विजोत्तमाः तस्मादाभ्यन्तरं शौचं सदा कार्यं विधानतः
sadāvagāhya salile viśuddhāḥ kiṃ dvijottamāḥ tasmādābhyantaraṃ śaucaṃ sadā kāryaṃ vidhānataḥ
हे द्विजोत्तम! सतत पाण्यात स्नान करूनच काय पूर्ण शुद्धी होते? म्हणून विधिप्रमाणे अंतःशौच सदैव करावे.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, conveying dharmic teaching aligned with Shaiva discipline)
It states that mere external bathing is insufficient; for Linga-puja to bear fruit, the worshipper must maintain inner purity (ābhyantara-śauca), making the mind fit for Śiva (Pati).
By implying that true purification is inward, it aligns with Shiva-tattva as the pure consciousness (Pati) approached through inner transformation, not only through external rites.
It highlights śauca as a Shaiva discipline: internal cleansing of intention, thought, and conduct—supporting Pashupata-oriented self-purification alongside external ritual bathing.