Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

पुरिफ़िचतिओन् अफ़्तेर् तोउछिन्ग् अ देअद् बोद्य् स्पृष्ट्वा प्रेतं त्रिरात्रेण धर्मार्थं स्नानमुच्यते दाहकानां च नेतॄणां स्नानमात्रमबान्धवे

Transliteration

purification after touching a dead body spṛṣṭvā pretaṃ trirātreṇa dharmārthaṃ snānamucyate dāhakānāṃ ca netṝṇāṃ snānamātramabāndhave

Translation

Kapag nahipo ang bangkay, para sa kapakanan ng dharma, itinatakda ang paliligo para sa paglilinis sa loob ng tatlong gabi. Para naman sa mga nagsusunog ng bangkay at sa mga nagdadala/nangunguna rito patungo sa pook ng pagsusunugan, kung hindi kamag-anak, ang paglilinis ay natatamo sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagligo.

Word by Word

• स्पृष्ट्वा (spṛṣṭvā): having touched

• प्रेतम् (pretam): a dead body/corpse

• त्रिरात्रेण (trirātreṇa): for three nights

• धर्मार्थम् (dharmārtham): for the sake of dharma/right order

• स्नानम् (snānam): bathing, ritual bath

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/prescribed

• दाहकानाम् (dāhakānām): of the cremators/burners

• च (ca): and

• नेतॄणाम् (netṝṇām): of the bearers/leaders (who take the body)

• स्नानमात्रम् (snāna-mātram): bathing alone

• अबान्धवे (abāndhave): for a non-relative/one not related

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 defines śauca (ritual purity) after contact with death, a prerequisite for approaching Shiva-Linga worship with proper adhikāra (eligibility) and maintaining dharma in ritual life.

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

Indirectly, it presents Shiva as Pati who is approached through dharmic discipline: purity rules regulate the embodied pashu so that worship is performed with inner and outer order, reducing pāśa (impurity/bondage) that obstructs devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śauca via snāna (purificatory bathing) and time-bound purification after contact with a corpse—practical dharma that supports correct Shiva-puja and steadiness in sādhana.