Shloka 22

Devanagari script

क्षमा सत्यं दया दानं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः सर्वव्रतेष्वयं धर्मः सामान्यो रुद्रपूजनम्

Transliteration

kṣamā satyaṃ dayā dānaṃ śaucamindriyanigrahaḥ sarvavrateṣvayaṃ dharmaḥ sāmānyo rudrapūjanam

Translation

క్షమ, సత్యం, దయ, దానం, శౌచం, ఇంద్రియనిగ్రహం—ఇవి అన్ని వ్రతాలలో సామాన్య ధర్మం; దీని పరమ ఫలం రుద్రపూజ, పశు (జీవ) యొక్క పాశాలను విప్పే పతి।

Word by Word

• क्षमा (kṣamā): forbearance/forgiveness

• सत्यं (satyaṁ): truthfulness

• दया (dayā): compassion

• दानं (dānaṁ): charitable giving

• शौचम् (śaucam): purity/cleanliness

• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः (indriya-nigrahaḥ): restraint of the senses

• सर्वव्रतेषु (sarva-vrateṣu): in all vows/observances

• अयं (ayaṁ): this

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ): dharma/righteous discipline

• सामान्यः (sāmānyaḥ): common/general

• रुद्रपूजनम् (rudra-pūjanam): worship of Rudra (Śiva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states that ethical discipline—purity, truth, compassion, charity, forgiveness, and sense-control—is the shared foundation of every vow, and that these culminate in Rudra-pūjā, making worship effective rather than merely external.

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

By presenting Rudra-pūjā as the universal dharma, it implies Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord toward whom all disciplines are oriented, the one whose grace releases the pashu (individual soul) from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) and śauca (purity) are emphasized as core supports for vrata and puja—key prerequisites aligned with Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā leading to steady Rudra worship.