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

噫，猛如虎的牟尼们，此水汲取之后以布滤过便得清净；当令无泡沫，尤以河水最为相宜——如是之水，方堪供奉湿婆。

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.