Shloka 20

Aghora-Mantra Japa: Graded Expiations, Pañcagavya Purification, and Homa for Mahāpātaka-Nivṛtti

Devanagari script

आप्यायस्वेति च क्षीरं दधिक्राव्णेति चाहरेत् गव्यं दधि नवं साक्षात् कापिलं वै पितामह

Transliteration

āpyāyasveti ca kṣīraṃ dadhikrāvṇeti cāharet gavyaṃ dadhi navaṃ sākṣāt kāpilaṃ vai pitāmaha

Translation

وعند التلفّظ بمانترا «Āpyāyasva» فليُقدَّم اللبن؛ وعند تلاوة «Dadhikrāvan» فليُجلب اللبنُ المخثّر الطازج من البقر—إنه حقًّا قربان كابِلا الطاهر المباشر، يا پِتامَها—اللائق بطقس رُدرا.

Word by Word

• āpyāyasva iti: with the mantra “Āpyāyasva” (may you be nourished/increase)

• ca: and

• kṣīram: milk

• dadhikrāvṇā iti: with the mantra “Dadhikrāvan” (the curd/milk-related Vedic formula)

• ca: and

• āharet: one should bring/offer

• gavyam: from a cow, bovine

• dadhi: curd/yogurt

• navam: fresh, newly prepared

• sākṣāt: directly, in its pure form

• kāpilam: Kapila-type (tawny-cow/kapila) offering

• vai: indeed

• pitāmaha: O Pitāmaha (Grandfather—Brahmā).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a ritual prescription; internally framed as instruction addressed to Brahma—Pitāmaha)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It specifies abhiṣeka-dravyas (milk and fresh cow-curd) to be offered with Vedic mantras, emphasizing that mantra and pure substances together purify the pashu (soul) and please Pati (Śiva) in Linga-pūjā.

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

Śiva is approached as Pati who is ritually invoked through Vedic speech and sattvic offerings; the “nourishing” substances signify His grace that strengthens and releases the bound pashu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Rudra-linga abhiṣeka with milk and fresh curd, coordinated with Vedic mantras—an outer discipline supporting inner Pāśupata orientation toward purification and surrender.