Shloka 3

स्नानविधिः — गायत्र्यावाहन, सूर्यवन्दन, तर्पण, पञ्चमहायज्ञ, भस्मस्नान, मन्त्रस्नान

Devanagari script

सहस्रं वा तदर्धं वा शतमष्टोत्तरं तु वा गायत्रीं प्रणवेनैव त्रिविधेष्वेकमाचरेत्

Transliteration

sahasraṃ vā tadardhaṃ vā śatamaṣṭottaraṃ tu vā gāyatrīṃ praṇavenaiva trividheṣvekamācaret

Translation

应以圣音普拉纳瓦（Oṃ）相连而持诵伽雅特丽（Gāyatrī）之咒：或一千遍，或其半数，或一百零八遍——于三种数目中择其一而行。由此有纪律的重复，帕舒（paśu，受缚之灵）趋向清净，堪受主宰帕提（Pati，湿婆）之恩摄。

Word by Word

• सहस्रं: a thousand

• वा: or

• तदर्धं: half of that

• शतम्: a hundred

• अष्टोत्तरम्: plus eight (i.e., 108)

• तु: indeed

• वा: or

• गायत्रीम्: the Gāyatrī mantra

• प्रणवेन: with the Pranava (Oṃ)

• एव: only/indeed

• त्रिविधेषु: among the three kinds (three counts)

• एकम्: one (option)

• आचरेत्: should practice/perform

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed observances to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sets a practical rule for daily mantra-discipline: Gāyatrī japa prefixed with Oṃ in fixed counts (1000/500/108), establishing inner purity as the foundation for effective Liṅga-pūjā and Śiva’s anugraha.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the bestower of grace—while the practitioner is the paśu who becomes fit for that grace through purification (śuddhi) produced by pranava-linked japa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Regulated mantra-japa (aṅga of Pāśupata-oriented sādhana): repeating Gāyatrī with Oṃ in one of three sanctioned counts, emphasizing niyama, steadiness, and inner concentration.