Shloka 19

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

त्रिरात्रमुपवासाश् च प्राणायामशतं तथा रात्रौ स्कन्नः शुचिः स्नात्वा द्वादशैव तु धारणा

Transliteration

trirātramupavāsāś ca prāṇāyāmaśataṃ tathā rātrau skannaḥ śuciḥ snātvā dvādaśaiva tu dhāraṇā

Translation

మూడు రాత్రులు ఉపవాసం చేయాలి, అలాగే వంద ప్రాణాయామాలు చేయాలి. తరువాత రాత్రి—స్ఖలితుడైతే—నియమానుసారం శుచిగా ఉండి స్నానం చేసి పన్నెండు ధారణలు (ఏకాగ్ర ధ్యానం) చేయాలి; ఇది శివపూజాసాధనలోని నియమం।

Word by Word

• त्रिरात्रम्: for three nights

• उपवासाः: fasts/abstinences

• च: and

• प्राणायामशतम्: a hundred breath-regulations

• तथा: likewise

• रात्रौ: at night

• स्कन्नः: having observed restraint/kept the vow (contextual: disciplined, regulated)

• शुचिः: pure/clean

• स्नात्वा: having bathed

• द्वादश: twelve

• एव: indeed/only

• तु: and/then

• धारणा: concentration, fixing the mind (dhāraṇā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-vrata and yogic supports to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links external vrata (three-night fasting and purity) with internal upāsanā (prāṇāyāma and dhāraṇā), showing that Linga-pūjā is perfected when the pashu (individual soul) is disciplined and made fit to approach Pati (Shiva).

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

Shiva-tattva is approached not merely through offerings but through inner steadiness: breath regulation and one-pointed dhāraṇā purify pasha (bondage: restlessness, impurity) so the pashu may turn toward the ever-pure Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A combined vrata-yoga regimen: trirātra-upavāsa (three-night fast), prāṇāyāma-śata (100 breath cycles), ritual purity through bathing, and dvādaśa-dhāraṇā (twelve focused concentrations) supporting Shiva-pūjā in a Pāśupata-oriented discipline.