Shloka 31

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

श्रद्धया परया युक्तो देहाश्लेषामृतेन वै निषिक्तेन स्वयं देवः क्षीरेण मधुसूदनः

Transliteration

śraddhayā parayā yukto dehāśleṣāmṛtena vai niṣiktena svayaṃ devaḥ kṣīreṇa madhusūdanaḥ

Translation

Endowed with supreme faith, Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu) himself poured—using milk—Amṛta, the nectar that removes bodily affliction, performing the consecrating libation of abhiṣeka in worship of the Deva (Śiva).

Word by Word

• श्रद्धया (śraddhayā): with faith

• परया (parayā): supreme, highest

• युक्तः (yuktaḥ): endowed, joined

• देह-आश्लेष-अमृतेन (deha-āśleṣa-amṛtena): with nectar that dispels bodily clinging/affliction

• वै (vai): indeed

• निषिक्तेन (niṣiktena): by pouring, by libation/abhisheka

• स्वयं (svayaṃ): himself

• देवः (devaḥ): the divine one (here: the Lord being worshipped)

• क्षीरेण (kṣīreṇa): with milk

• मधुसूदनः (madhusūdanaḥ): Madhusūdana, Viṣṇu

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents milk-abhisheka performed with para-śraddhā as a potent act of consecration, showing that sincere devotion sanctifies the rite and brings the Lord’s grace.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the Deva who receives and sanctifies the offering—whose grace can dissolve embodied afflictions and the soul’s clinging (pāśa) when approached with true faith.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Linga-abhisheka with milk, empowered by śraddhā; as a Shaiva discipline it supports purification of the pashu (individual soul) and steadiness for Pāśupata-oriented practice.