उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः
न जलं ताडयेत्पद्भ्यां नांभस्यङ्गमलं त्यजेत् मलं प्रक्षालयेत् तीरे प्रक्षाल्य स्नानमाचरेत्
na jalaṃ tāḍayetpadbhyāṃ nāṃbhasyaṅgamalaṃ tyajet malaṃ prakṣālayet tīre prakṣālya snānamācaret
Не следует бить воду ногами и не следует осквернять воду телесными нечистотами. Нечистоту надлежит смывать на берегу; очистив там, затем совершают ритуальное омовение. Так соблюдается śauca как подношение Пати (Шиве) и как дисциплина, ослабляющая узы (pāśa) на paśu — воплощённой душе.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-śauca and snāna rules to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
It establishes śauca as a prerequisite for snāna and pūjā: the devotee must keep sacred water pure and approach the Liṅga with disciplined cleanliness, turning bathing into an ethical and devotional act.
Śiva as Pati is approached through purity and restraint; by honoring tīrtha-water and avoiding defilement, the pashu aligns conduct with dharma, reducing pāśa (bondage) and becoming fit for Śiva’s grace.
Tīrtha-snāna with śauca: do not agitate or pollute the water; cleanse impurities on the bank first, then bathe—an outer discipline supporting inner Pāśupata self-control (yama-like restraint).