Shloka 7

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वस्त्रपूतं समाचरेत् तद्दानमभयं पुण्यं सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम्

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaprayatnena vastrapūtaṃ samācaret taddānamabhayaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvadānottamottamam

Translation

因此，当竭尽诸般努力，行持以布滤净而成的布施。此施能赐无畏（abhaya），功德殊胜，乃诸施之最上。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore

• सर्वप्रयत्नेन: with all effort

• वस्त्रपूतम्: purified/filtered through cloth

• समाचरेत्: one should practice/perform properly

• तत्: that

• दानम्: gift/charity

• अभयम्: fearlessness/safety

• पुण्यम्: merit, dharma-producing

• सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम्: the most excellent among all charities

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching on dana as dharma to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates compassionate, purity-based charity—especially cloth-filtered giving—as a Shiva-aligned dharma that supports sattva and makes worship (puja) ethically complete through ahimsa.

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

By praising “abhaya” (fearlessness) as the fruit of the highest gift, it reflects Shiva as Pati—the ultimate refuge who removes fear and bondage (pāśa) for the pashu through dharmic conduct.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vastra-pūta practice—filtering (especially water or offered liquids) through cloth to avoid harm to subtle life—highlighting ahimsa as a practical discipline supporting puja and inner purification.