Shloka 7

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

एकैकातिक्रमे तेषां प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते उपेत्य तु स्त्रियं कामात् प्रायश्चित्तं विनिर्दिशेत्

Transliteration

ekaikātikrame teṣāṃ prāyaścittaṃ vidhīyate upetya tu striyaṃ kāmāt prāyaścittaṃ vinirdiśet

Translation

对于这些戒律中的每一项违犯，都规定有赎罪净化之仪（prāyaścitta）。若因欲念而亲近女子，也应当明确制定相应的 prāyaścitta。

Word by Word

• एकैक (ekaika): each one, individually

• अतिक्रमे (ātikrame): in the act of transgressing/overstepping

• तेषां (teṣāṃ): of those (rules/observances)

• प्रायश्चित्तं (prāyaścittaṃ): expiation, atonement

• विधीयते (vidhīyate): is ordained/prescribed

• उपेत्य (upetya): having approached

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• स्त्रियं (striyaṃ): a woman

• कामात् (kāmāt): from desire, due to lust

• प्रायश्चित्तं (prāyaścittaṃ): expiation

• विनिर्दिशेत् (vinirdiśet): should prescribe/declare specifically.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dharma-vidhi of the Linga Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-pūjā and related vratas as discipline-based: when rules are broken, prāyaścitta restores śauca (purity) so the sādhaka may continue worship without reinforcing pāśa (bondage).

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

Implicitly, Shiva as Pati is approached through regulated conduct; expiation is a means to realign the pashu (individual soul) away from kāma-driven impulses that thicken pāśa, and back toward eligibility for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāyaścitta as an auxiliary discipline to vrata and Shiva-pūjā—supporting brahmacarya/indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) as a practical foundation for Pāśupata-oriented purification.