Shloka 17

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रं कुर्वीत चान्द्रायणमथापि वा स्कन्देदिन्द्रियदौर्बल्यात् स्त्रियं दृष्ट्वा यतिर्यदि

Transliteration

kṛcchrātikṛcchraṃ kurvīta cāndrāyaṇamathāpi vā skandedindriyadaurbalyāt striyaṃ dṛṣṭvā yatiryadi

Translation

若有出家行者（yati）因诸根（indriya）羸弱，见女子而致精失，当行严峻之忏悔法“Kṛcchrātikṛcchra”，或受持“Cāndrāyaṇa”月行誓。以此苦行（tapas），缚魂paśu调伏诸根，松解系缚pāśa，复归向主宰Pati——大自在天Śiva。

Word by Word

• कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रं: the very severe 'Kṛcchrātikṛcchra' penance

• कुर्वीत: should perform

• चान्द्रायणम्: the Cāndrāyaṇa vow (lunar-cycle fast)

• अथ अपि वा: or else

• स्कन्देत्: should have a fall / should emit semen

• इन्द्रियदौर्बल्यात्: due to weakness of the senses

• स्त्रियम्: a woman

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• यतिः: a renunciant, ascetic

• यदि: if

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the Sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered Shaiva life as grounded in purity and self-restraint: when a lapse occurs, prescribed prāyaścitta restores adhikāra (fitness) for Shiva-upāsanā and reorients the pashu toward Pati.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—toward whom the soul must turn by removing pasha (bondage) created and strengthened by indriya-daurbalya; expiation and tapas become means to re-establish that alignment.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights prāyaścitta through Kṛcchrātikṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa, paired with yogic indriya-nigraha (sense-control) as essential discipline for a yati in the Pashupata-oriented Shaiva path.