Shloka 103

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

Devanagari script

पञ्चरात्रं तथास्पृश्या रजसा वर्तते यदि सा विंशद्दिवसादूर्ध्वं रजसा पूर्ववत्तथा

Transliteration

pañcarātraṃ tathāspṛśyā rajasā vartate yadi sā viṃśaddivasādūrdhvaṃ rajasā pūrvavattathā

Translation

Kung dahil sa rajas (daloy ng buwanang dugo) siya’y nananatili sa kalagayang may pag-iwas sa paghipo ayon sa ritwal sa loob ng limang gabi, at kung ang rajas na iyon ay tumagal lampas dalawampung araw, siya’y ituturing muli gaya ng dati—ibig sabihin, ang mga tuntunin ng paghihigpit sa ritwal ay muling ipatutupad.

Word by Word

• पञ्चरात्रम्: for five nights

• तथा: thus/in that manner

• अस्पृश्या: untouchable (ritually unfit to be touched)

• रजसा: by rajas, menstrual flow

• वर्तते: continues/remains

• यदि: if

• सा: she

• विंशद्दिवसात्: from twenty days

• ऊर्ध्वम्: beyond/above

• रजसा: with the menstrual flow

• पूर्ववत्: as earlier/as previously prescribed

• तथा: likewise

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śaiva dharma and ritual discipline to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sets eligibility boundaries for approaching Śiva-liṅga worship: during rajas, specific periods of āśauca (ritual restriction) are observed so that worship is performed with prescribed śauca, supporting disciplined devotion rather than casual ritualism.

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

Śiva as Pati is untouched by impurity, yet the bound soul (paśu) must follow purificatory discipline while embodied. The verse reflects the Siddhāntic distinction: impurity pertains to the practitioner’s condition, not to Śiva’s absolute purity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śauca–niyama (purity as a discipline) in Śaiva pūjā: observing time-bound restrictions during rajas and reapplying the same rule if bleeding extends unusually long, ensuring correct conduct in vrata, dāna, and liṅga-arcana.