Adhyaya 89: शौचाचारलक्षणम् — सदाचार, भैक्ष्यचर्या, प्रायश्चित्त, द्रव्यशुद्धि, आशौच-निर्णय
गन्धवर्णरसैर्दुष्टम् अशुचिस्थानसंस्थितम् पङ्काश्मदूषितं चैव सामुद्रं पल्वलोदकम्
gandhavarṇarasairduṣṭam aśucisthānasaṃsthitam paṅkāśmadūṣitaṃ caiva sāmudraṃ palvalodakam
وہ پانی جس کی بو، رنگ اور ذائقہ بگڑ گیا ہو، جو ناپاک جگہ پر ٹھہرا ہو، کیچڑ اور پتھروں سے آلودہ ہو—چاہے سمندر کا ہو یا ٹھہرے تالاب کا—عبادت کے لیے ناپاک ہے۔
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja guidelines within the Linga Purana tradition)
It defines unacceptable water for abhiṣeka and offering, emphasizing śauca (ritual purity) so that the devotee’s offering aligns with Shiva’s sanctity in Linga-puja.
By insisting on pure offerings, it implies Shiva as Pati—the supremely pure Lord—approached through disciplined purity that helps the pashu (soul) loosen pasha (bondage) via right conduct.
Puja-vidhi centered on śauca: selecting clean, untainted water for worship; this outer discipline supports inner steadiness in Pashupata-oriented sadhana.