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

Bahkan titisan air daripada berkumur (ācamana) yang kebetulan menyentuh kaki hendaklah diketahui setara dengan tanah (neutral dari segi ritual). Oleh itu jangan menjadi cuai kerananya; tetaplah berjaga akan kesucian ketika melakukan pemujaan kepada Śiva.

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.