Shloka 41

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

निवेदयेच्च रुद्राय भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा क्षीराद्वै सर्वदेवानां स्थित्यर्थममृतं ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

nivedayecca rudrāya bhaktiyuktena cetasā kṣīrādvai sarvadevānāṃ sthityarthamamṛtaṃ dhruvam

Translation

Mit einem Geist, der in Bhakti verbunden ist, soll man dies Rudra darbringen; denn aus Milch entsteht wahrlich Amṛta, der beständige Nektar der Unsterblichkeit, eingesetzt zum Erhalt aller Götter.

Word by Word

• निवेदयेत्: one should offer/present (as naivedya)

• च: and

• रुद्राय: to Rudra (Shiva as Pati)

• भक्तियुक्तेन: endowed with devotion

• चेतसा: with the mind/heart-consciousness

• क्षीरात्: from milk

• वै: indeed

• सर्वदेवानाम्: of all the gods

• स्थित्यर्थम्: for the purpose of sustenance/maintenance (sthiti)

• अमृतम्: nectar/immortality

• ध्रुवम्: firm, constant, unfailing

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja injunctions within the Purva-Bhaga discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames milk-offering (kṣīra-naivedya/abhisheka) as a devotion-centered act to Rudra, symbolizing life-sustaining amṛta and reinforcing the sthiti (maintenance) aspect of cosmic order under Shiva’s lordship.

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

Shiva appears as Rudra—Pati, the sovereign recipient of worship—through whom sustaining power is secured; the ‘dhruva amṛta’ suggests his steady, unfailing grace that preserves devas and, by extension, bound souls (pashus) amid pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it highlights offering milk to Rudra with bhakti-yukta cetas (a devotion-unified mind). Yogically, it implies inner concentration and surrender—purifying the chitta so the pashu turns toward Pati, loosening the bonds of pasha.