Shloka 121

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

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामेव भूतानां सदाचारः प्रकीर्तितः यः पठेच्छृणुयाद् वापि सदाचारं शुचिर्नरः

Transliteration

sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṃ sadācāraḥ prakīrtitaḥ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyād vāpi sadācāraṃ śucirnaraḥ

Translation

Đối với mọi loài hữu tình, sadācāra (hạnh lành, chánh hạnh) được tuyên dương. Người có tâm thanh tịnh, dù tụng đọc hay chỉ lắng nghe lời dạy về chánh hạnh ấy, cũng được thanh lọc—xứng hợp với con đường đưa paśu (linh hồn cá thể) hướng về Pati, Đức Śiva.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām): of all

• एव (eva): indeed

• भूतानाम् (bhūtānām): of beings/creatures

• सदाचारः (sadācāraḥ): right conduct, virtuous discipline

• प्रकीर्तितः (prakīrtitaḥ): is declared/proclaimed

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• पठेत् (paṭhet): recites

• शृणुयात् (śṛṇuyāt): listens/hears

• वा अपि (vā api): or even

• सदाचारम् (sadācāram): the teaching/subject of right conduct

• शुचिः (śuciḥ): pure, cleansed (in mind and conduct)

• नरः (naraḥ): person/man

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It establishes that Linga-puja is grounded in sadācāra: ethical purity and disciplined living. Reciting or hearing teachings on right conduct purifies the practitioner, making worship effective and aligned with Shiva-dharma.

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

Implicitly, it points to Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord approached through purification and dharma. When the paśu becomes śuci (purified), the bonds (pāśa) loosen, enabling clearer orientation toward Shiva-tattva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śravaṇa and pāṭha (listening and recitation) of dharmic instruction are presented as purificatory disciplines—supporting Pāśupata-oriented practice by stabilizing conduct (ācāra) before higher worship and yoga.