Shloka 33

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire

Devanagari script

पयोव्रतोऽभवन्मासम्मासम्मासं शाक फलाशनः । मासम्मुष्टितिलाहारो मासं पानीयभोजनः

Transliteration

payovrato'bhavanmāsammāsammāsaṃ śāka phalāśanaḥ | māsammuṣṭitilāhāro māsaṃ pānīyabhojanaḥ

Translation

Einen Monat lang hielt er das Gelübde, nur Milch zu sich zu nehmen; im nächsten Monat lebte er von Gemüse und Früchten. Einen weiteren Monat nährte er sich von einer Handvoll Sesam, und noch einen Monat nahm er allein Wasser als Speise.

Word by Word

• पयोव्रतः: one observing a milk-vow
• पयोव्रतः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस्-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; (पयः-आहार-नियमः)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• शाक: vegetables
• शाक: कर्म (कर्म/Object—food)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular (as diet item)

• फलाशनः: one who eats fruits
• फलाशनः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject—appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल-आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; (फलम् अश्नाति इति)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• मुष्टितिलाहारः: one whose food is a handful of sesame
• मुष्टितिलाहारः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject—appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि-तिल-आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; (मुष्टिमात्र-तिल-आहारः)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• पानीयभोजनः: one whose food is only water/liquid
• पानीयभोजनः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject—appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पानीय-भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; (पानीयम् एव भोजनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights progressive austerity—reducing dependence on food and sense-comforts—so the devotee’s will becomes purified and single-pointed toward Pati (Shiva), aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on discipline as a support for grace (anugraha).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Such vows commonly accompany Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-puja—where bodily restraint, purity, and steadiness of mind make the offerings, japa, and dhyana more sattvic and receptive to Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured vrata (fasting discipline) is indicated; it can be paired with daily Linga-abhisheka, Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and simple purity observances such as bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha, according to one’s capacity.