Shloka 2

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

आपः पूता भवन्त्येता वस्त्रपूताः समुद्धृताः अफेना मुनिशार्दूला नादेयाश् च विशेषतः

Transliteration

āpaḥ pūtā bhavantyetā vastrapūtāḥ samuddhṛtāḥ aphenā muniśārdūlā nādeyāś ca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Hỡi các bậc hiền thánh dũng mãnh như hổ, những dòng nước này trở nên thanh tịnh khi được múc lên và lọc qua vải; phải không có bọt, và đặc biệt nước sông được xem là thích hợp hơn cả—nhờ vậy nước trở nên xứng đáng cho sự thờ phụng Śiva.

Word by Word

• āpaḥ: waters

• pūtāḥ: purified

• bhavanti: become

• etāḥ: these

• vastra-pūtāḥ: purified by cloth-filtering

• samuddhṛtāḥ: drawn up/collected

• aphenā: free from foam

• muni-śārdūlāḥ: O best of sages (tiger among sages)

• nādeyāḥ: river-born waters (from a river)

• ca: and

• viśeṣataḥ: especially/particularly

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva-pūjā-vidhi to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sets a core rule of dravya-śuddhi (purity of offering): water for abhiṣeka and pūjā should be properly collected and cloth-filtered, ideally river-water, so the worship offered to Pati (Śiva) is ritually fit.

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

By insisting on purified water, the verse reflects Śiva-tattva as the supreme Pati who is approached through disciplined purity and right method; the pious act of śuddhi refines the pashu’s (soul’s) intention and aligns it toward liberation from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical pūjā-vidhi instruction for liṅga-abhiṣeka: use foamless, cloth-filtered water—preferably river-water—emphasizing external purity that supports inner yogic purity in Pāśupata-oriented Śaiva practice.