Shloka 79

Adhyaya 89: शौचाचारलक्षणम् — सदाचार, भैक्ष्यचर्या, प्रायश्चित्त, द्रव्यशुद्धि, आशौच-निर्णय

Devanagari script

असंचयाद् द्विजानां च स्नानमात्रेण नान्यथा तथा संनिहितानां च यज्ञार्थं दीक्षितस्य च

Transliteration

asaṃcayād dvijānāṃ ca snānamātreṇa nānyathā tathā saṃnihitānāṃ ca yajñārthaṃ dīkṣitasya ca

Translation

அசஞ்சயத்தால் உண்டாகும் அசௌசத்தில் இருபிறப்போரின் சுத்தி ஸ்நானமாத்திரத்தாலே; வேறு வழியில்லை. யாகத்திற்காக அருகில் இருப்பவர்களுக்கும் யாகார்த்த தீக்ஷிதருக்கும் சுத்திகரமானது ஸ்நானமே.

Word by Word

• असंचयात्: due to non-accumulation/non-retention (of impurity)

• द्विजानाम्: of the twice-born (Brahmins and other initiated)

• च: and

• स्नानमात्रेण: by bathing alone

• न: not

• अन्यथा: otherwise/by other means

• तथा: likewise

• संनिहितानाम्: of those assembled/present (at the ritual)

• च: and

• यज्ञार्थम्: for the purpose of sacrifice

• दीक्षितस्य: of the consecrated initiate (dīkṣita)

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s ritual regulations 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 Shaiva standard of ritual eligibility: for a dīkṣita or officiant engaged in a Shiva-oriented yajña/puja setting, simple bathing is affirmed as the sufficient purifier in this specific impurity-condition, safeguarding uninterrupted worship of Pati (Shiva).

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

Indirectly, it frames Shiva-tattva as approached through disciplined observance: when external shuddhi is rightly performed, the pashu (soul) becomes fit to turn toward Pati; ritual order supports the loosening of pasha (bondage) by maintaining sanctity in worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Snāna (ritual bathing) as a primary act of purification for the dīkṣita and participants in yajña—an external shuddhi that complements inner Shaiva sadhana, aligning the practitioner for mantra, homa, and Linga-puja.