Shloka 20

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

प्राणायामेन शुद्धात्मा विरजा जायते द्विजाः एकान्नं मधुमांसं वा अशृतान्नं तथैव च

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmena śuddhātmā virajā jāyate dvijāḥ ekānnaṃ madhumāṃsaṃ vā aśṛtānnaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

హే ద్విజులారా, ప్రాణాయామంతో అంతఃకరణం శుద్ధమై రజోధూళి లేనిదిగా అవుతుంది. నియమానుసారం ఒక్కసారి భోజనం, లేదా (విధి ఉన్నప్పుడు) తేనె-మాంసం, అలాగే ఉడకని ఆహారమును కూడా స్వీకరించాలి—ఇది యోగస్థైర్యం, శివభక్తిని పోషిస్తుంది।

Word by Word

• प्राणायामेन: by breath-regulation (prāṇāyāma)

• शुद्धात्मा: one whose inner being is purified

• विरजा: free from rajas/impurity, stainless

• जायते: becomes, arises as

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-vaiśya)

• एकान्नम्: single-meal/one portion of food

• मधुमांसम्: honey and meat

• वा: or

• अशृतान्नम्: uncooked (unboiled) food

• तथा एव: likewise/also

• च: and

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links outer worship to inner eligibility: prāṇāyāma and disciplined āhāra purify the pashu (individual soul) by reducing rajas, making the mind fit for steady Linga-dhyāna and Śiva-pūjā.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the stainless Pati; the seeker becomes “viraja” (free from rajas) by yogic purification, aligning the pashu toward the purity needed to approach the transcendent Lord beyond pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāṇāyāma is primary, supported by āhāra-niyama (regulated diet such as single-meal observance and other prescribed foods) as an auxiliary discipline in a Shaiva/Pāśupata purification regimen.