Shloka 49

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

Uma–Maheshvara Vrata, Shula-dana, and Month-wise Ekabhakta Vrata

Devanagari script

वितानध्वजवस्त्राद्यैर् धातुभिश् च निवेदयेत् ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च दापयेच्च यथाविधि

Transliteration

vitānadhvajavastrādyair dhātubhiś ca nivedayet brāhmaṇān bhojayitvā ca dāpayecca yathāvidhi

Translation

Man soll Baldachine, Banner, Gewänder und dergleichen sowie Metalle darbringen; und nachdem man die Brāhmaṇas gespeist hat, soll man auch die vorgeschriebenen Gaben nach rechter Vorschrift geben. So werden durch Hingabe an den Pati, Śiva, die pāśas (Fesseln) des paśu gelockert.

Word by Word

• वितान (vitāna): canopy, ceremonial awning

• ध्वज (dhvaja): banner, flag

• वस्त्र (vastra): cloth, garment

• आद्यैः (ādyaiḥ): and other such items

• धातुभिः (dhātubhiḥ): with metals/mineral substances

• च (ca): and

• निवेदयेत् (nivedayet): should offer/present

• ब्राह्मणान् (brāhmaṇān): Brāhmaṇas

• भोजयित्वा (bhojayitvā): having fed

• च (ca): and

• दापयेत् (dāpayet): should cause to be given/should donate

• यथाविधि (yathāvidhi): according to injunction, as prescribed.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja and dana procedures to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-puja as complete only when ritual offerings are paired with annadāna (feeding Brāhmaṇas) and properly ordained gifts—making worship both devotional and dharmic.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the Lord who is approached through prescribed worship; offerings and charity become means to reduce pāśa (bondage) and align the paśu (individual soul) toward Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A puja-vidhi emphasis: offering upacāras (canopy, banner, cloth, metals), followed by feeding Brāhmaṇas and giving dāna yathāvidhi—supporting inner purification aligned with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.