Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

पुरिफ़िचतिओन् अफ़्तेर् तोउछिन्ग् अ देअद् बोद्य् स्पृष्ट्वा प्रेतं त्रिरात्रेण धर्मार्थं स्नानमुच्यते दाहकानां च नेतॄणां स्नानमात्रमबान्धवे

Transliteration

purification after touching a dead body spṛṣṭvā pretaṃ trirātreṇa dharmārthaṃ snānamucyate dāhakānāṃ ca netṝṇāṃ snānamātramabāndhave

Translation

触及尸身之后，为护持法（dharma），当行净浴并守净三夜。至于焚尸者与抬送、引领尸身至火葬处者，若非亲属，则唯以沐浴即可得净。

Word by Word

• स्पृष्ट्वा (spṛṣṭvā): having touched

• प्रेतम् (pretam): a dead body/corpse

• त्रिरात्रेण (trirātreṇa): for three nights

• धर्मार्थम् (dharmārtham): for the sake of dharma/right order

• स्नानम् (snānam): bathing, ritual bath

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/prescribed

• दाहकानाम् (dāhakānām): of the cremators/burners

• च (ca): and

• नेतॄणाम् (netṝṇām): of the bearers/leaders (who take the body)

• स्नानमात्रम् (snāna-mātram): bathing alone

• अबान्धवे (abāndhave): for a non-relative/one not related

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines śauca (ritual purity) after contact with death, a prerequisite for approaching Shiva-Linga worship with proper adhikāra (eligibility) and maintaining dharma in ritual life.

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

Indirectly, it presents Shiva as Pati who is approached through dharmic discipline: purity rules regulate the embodied pashu so that worship is performed with inner and outer order, reducing pāśa (impurity/bondage) that obstructs devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śauca via snāna (purificatory bathing) and time-bound purification after contact with a corpse—practical dharma that supports correct Shiva-puja and steadiness in sādhana.