Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे ऽणिमाद्यष्टसिद्धित्रिगुणसंसारप्राग्नौ होमादिवर्णनं नामाष्टाशीतितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि शौचाचारस्य लक्षणम् यदनुष्ठाय शुद्धात्मा परेत्य गतिमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge 'ṇimādyaṣṭasiddhitriguṇasaṃsāraprāgnau homādivarṇanaṃ nāmāṣṭāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca ata ūrdhvaṃ pravakṣyāmi śaucācārasya lakṣaṇam yadanuṣṭhāya śuddhātmā paretya gatimāpnuyāt

Translation

如是，在《圣林伽大往世书》前分中，第八十九章开篇，章名为：“描述入火供（homa）等供献——其在三德轮回之先行之火中施行——并兼述自微细神通（aṇimā）起之八种悉地。”苏多曰：“自今以后，我将宣说净行（śaucācāra）之相；修持此净行，则自性得净，命终之后得真实归趣（gati），在主宰（Pati，湿婆）摄受下趋向解脱。”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• aṇimā-ādya-aṣṭa-siddhi: the eight yogic attainments beginning with aṇimā

• triguṇa-saṃsāra: transmigratory existence governed by the three guṇas

• prāk-agnau: in the prior/preceding fire (the preparatory rite-fire)

• homa-ādi-varṇanam: description of homa and related rites

• nāma: named/called

• aṣṭāśītitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the eighty-ninth chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• ata ūrdhvam: henceforth/now onward

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall declare

• śauca-ācārasya: of the conduct of purity

• lakṣaṇam: characteristics/definition

• yat: which

• anuṣṭhāya: having practised/undertaken

• śuddha-ātmā: one whose inner self is purified

• paretya: after departing (after death)

• gatim: the destined path/state (higher spiritual attainment)

• āpnuyāt: may attain.

Speaker

Sūta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni

FAQs

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

It frames purity (śaucācāra) as a prerequisite for effective Śiva-upāsanā, implying that external rites like homa and internal cleanliness together refine the pashu (soul) for approaching Pati (Śiva) through Liṅga worship.

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

By contrasting triguṇa-saṃsāra with the “gati” attained through purification, it implies Śiva-tattva as beyond the guṇas and the cycles of bondage (pāśa), the liberating goal toward which the purified self moves.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śaucācāra (disciplined purity) is highlighted as the foundational sādhana; it supports ritual acts such as homa and prepares the aspirant for Pāśupata-aligned purification leading to a higher post-mortem gati.