Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

दमः शमः सत्यमकल्मषत्वं मौनं च भूतेष्वखिलेषु चार्जवम् अतीन्द्रियं ज्ञानमिदं तथा शिवं प्राहुस् तथा ज्ञानविशुद्धबुद्धयः

Transliteration

damaḥ śamaḥ satyamakalmaṣatvaṃ maunaṃ ca bhūteṣvakhileṣu cārjavam atīndriyaṃ jñānamidaṃ tathā śivaṃ prāhus tathā jñānaviśuddhabuddhayaḥ

Translation

自制（dama）、内寂（śama）、真实、无垢、圣默（mauna）以及对一切众生的正直——这便是超越诸根的智慧；而此智慧本身即是湿婆，乃由真知净化其心智者如是宣说。

Word by Word

• दमः (damaḥ): restraint of the senses

• शमः (śamaḥ): inner calm/quietude of mind

• सत्यम् (satyam): truthfulness

• अकल्मषत्वम् (akalmaṣatvam): freedom from impurity/sinlessness

• मौनम् (maunam): silence/observant restraint in speech

• भूतेषु अखिलेषु (bhūteṣu akhileṣu): toward all beings without exception

• च (ca): and

• आर्जवम् (ārjavam): straightness/sincerity/non-crookedness

• अतीन्द्रियम् (atīndriyam): beyond the senses, transcendent

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam): knowledge (liberating insight)

• इदम् (idam): this

• तथा (tathā): thus/also

• शिवम् (śivam): Śiva/auspicious reality

• प्राहुः (prāhuḥ): they declare

• तथा (tathā): indeed

• ज्ञान-विशुद्ध-बुद्धयः (jñāna-viśuddha-buddhayaḥ): those whose understanding is purified by knowledge

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching as received within the Linga Purana’s discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states that true approach to the Linga is not only external puja but inner qualification—sense-restraint, purity, truth, and non-harmful sincerity toward all beings—through which the worshipper becomes fit to recognize Śiva in the Linga as transcendent knowledge.

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

Śiva-tattva is described as atīndriya—beyond sensory grasp—and as jñāna itself: the purified, liberating awareness that dissolves pāśa (bondage) and reveals Pati (the Lord) to the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights the yogic disciplines central to Pāśupata-oriented sādhana—dama, śama, mauna, and ārjava—as inner limbs that purify buddhi, making Shiva-jnana arise alongside (and as the essence of) Shiva-puja.