Shloka 59

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

एतास्तु मात्रा विज्ञेया यथावदनुपूर्वशः यावदेव तु शक्यन्ते धार्यन्ते तावदेव हि

Transliteration

etāstu mātrā vijñeyā yathāvadanupūrvaśaḥ yāvadeva tu śakyante dhāryante tāvadeva hi

Translation

Mātrā-mātrā ini hendaklah difahami dengan tepat, menurut tertib yang benar. Sesungguhnya, amalan itu patut dipelihara hanya selama benar-benar mampu—sekadar itulah sahaja.

Word by Word

• etāḥ: these

• tu: indeed/but

• mātrāḥ: measures (units of time, esp. in yogic regulation)

• vijñeyāḥ: to be known/understood

• yathāvat: properly, as prescribed

• anupūrvaśaḥ: sequentially, step by step

• yāvat eva: only as much as

• tu: indeed

• śakyante: are possible/can be done

• dhāryante: are to be held/maintained (retained in practice)

• tāvat eva: only that much

• hi: for/indeed.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed discipline as taught in the Linga Purana tradition)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shaiva practice as disciplined and measurable: even in Linga-upāsanā and allied yogic acts, one proceeds step-by-step and only to the capacity that preserves steadiness and purity.

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

By implying that approach to Pati (Shiva) is through regulated, truthful sādhanā: the finite pashu advances gradually, loosening pāśa through ordered practice rather than forceful excess.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to mātrā-based regulation—commonly applied to prāṇāyāma/retention and other timed observances—emphasizing gradual increase (anupūrva) and capacity-based restraint.