Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

अक्रोधो गुरुशुश्रूषा शौचमाहारलाघवम् नित्यं स्वाध्याय इत्येते नियमाः परिकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

akrodho guruśuśrūṣā śaucamāhāralāghavam nityaṃ svādhyāya ityete niyamāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Translation

离嗔无怒、恭敬侍奉上师（Guru）、清净、饮食轻安、以及每日诵习圣典（svādhyāya）——这些被宣说为湿婆行者的尼耶摩（niyama，内律）。由此，受缚的 paśu（个体灵魂）得以堪受 Pati 的恩 grace。

Word by Word

• अक्रोधः: absence of anger

• गुरु-शुश्रूषा: attentive service to the spiritual preceptor

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness (outer and inner)

• आहार-लाघवम्: moderation and lightness of diet

• नित्यम्: always/daily

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study/recitation of sacred texts and mantra

• इति: thus

• एते: these

• नियमाः: observances/disciplinary vows

• परिकीर्तिताः: declared/proclaimed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva disciplines to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the inner disciplines (niyamas) that make Linga-puja effective—purity, restraint, and Guru-centered practice refine the paśu so worship becomes a vessel for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

By implying Shiva as Pati, the liberating Lord: when anger and impurity (forms of pāśa) are reduced through niyama, the soul becomes receptive to Shiva-tattva as grace and illumination rather than mere ritual form.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pashupata-oriented niyama set: guru-śuśrūṣā (lineage discipline), śauca (purificatory conduct), āhāra-lāghava (dietary regulation), and nitya-svādhyāya (daily mantra/scriptural recitation) as the foundation for sadhana.