Shloka 13

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

कार्यमभ्युक्षणं नित्यं स्नपनं च विशेषतः त्रैलोक्यमखिलं हत्वा यत्फलं परिकीर्त्यते

Transliteration

kāryamabhyukṣaṇaṃ nityaṃ snapanaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ trailokyamakhilaṃ hatvā yatphalaṃ parikīrtyate

Translation

Hendaklah dilakukan setiap hari abhyukṣaṇa (percikan air suci) dan, lebih-lebih lagi, snapana (mandian upacara) bagi Śiva-liṅga. Buah pahala yang diisytiharkan bagi amalan ini dikatakan setara dengan pahala yang disebutkan bahkan setelah memusnahkan seluruh tiga alam—demikian agungnya merit yang dinyatakan.

Word by Word

• kāryam: should be done/ought to be performed

• abhyukṣaṇam: sprinkling (ritual aspersion with sanctified water)

• nityam: daily/constantly

• snapanaṃ: bathing/ablution (of the Liṅga)

• ca: and

• viśeṣataḥ: especially/in particular

• trailokyam: the three worlds

• akhilam: wholly/entirely

• hatvā: having slain/having destroyed

• yat-phalam: whatever fruit/merit

• parikīrtyate: is proclaimed/celebrated in scripture

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates daily abhyukṣaṇa and especially Liṅga-snapana (abhiṣeka) as a supreme Śaiva practice whose merit is proclaimed as extraordinarily vast, underscoring Liṅga-pūjā as a direct means of receiving Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

By declaring immeasurable fruit for a simple act of worship, the verse points to Śiva as Pati—the sovereign bestower of liberation and merit—whose presence in the Liṅga makes ritual devotion a potent channel for dissolving pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it highlights abhyukṣaṇa (sanctified sprinkling) and snapana/abhiṣeka (Liṅga bathing) as daily disciplines; yogically, it supports Pāśupata-oriented devotion where steady, repeated worship purifies the paśu and turns it toward Śiva through bhakti and kriyā.