Shloka 78

देवादिसृष्टिकथनम् (वसिष्ठशोकः, पराशरजन्म, एकलिङ्गपूजा, रुद्रदर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

होतारं लिङ्गसूक्तं च अथर्वशिर एव च अष्टाङ्गमर्घ्यं रुद्राय दत्त्वाभ्यर्च्य यथाविधि

Transliteration

hotāraṃ liṅgasūktaṃ ca atharvaśira eva ca aṣṭāṅgamarghyaṃ rudrāya dattvābhyarcya yathāvidhi

Translation

Reciting the Hotṛ invocation, the Liṅga-sūkta, and the Atharvaśiras, one should offer to Rudra the eightfold arghya and worship Him according to the prescribed rite. Thus the paśu (bound soul) approaches the Pati (Lord) through mantra and proper worship, and by Śiva’s grace the bonds (pāśa) are loosened.

Word by Word

• होतारम् (hotāram): the Hotṛ-invocation / priestly Vedic call

• लिङ्गसूक्तम् (liṅgasūktam): the hymn to the Liṅga

• च (ca): and

• अथर्वशिरः (atharvaśiraḥ): the Atharvaśiras Upaniṣadic hymn (Rudra-Atharvaśiras)

• एव (eva): indeed

• च (ca): and

• अष्टाङ्गम् (aṣṭāṅgam): eight-limbed / eightfold

• अर्घ्यम् (arghyam): arghya offering (ritual oblation of honor, typically water with auspicious items)

• रुद्राय (rudrāya): to Rudra (Śiva)

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having offered

• अभ्यर्च्य (abhyarcya): having worshipped reverentially

• यथाविधि (yathāvidhi): according to rule / as enjoined by śāstra

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a mantra-centered Liṅga-pūjā: recitation of key Rudra/Śiva hymns and the offering of aṣṭāṅga-arghya, emphasizing that correct vidhi (procedure) makes worship efficacious and grace-bearing.

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

Śiva is addressed as Rudra, the Pati who is approached through Vedic revelation (mantra). The verse implies Śiva-tattva as the supreme recipient of worship whose grace dissolves pāśa (bondage) for the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Vedicized Rudra-Liṅga pūjā practice: chanting Hotṛ/Śiva hymns (including Atharvaśiras) and offering eightfold arghya—an external discipline that supports inner Pāśupata orientation toward liberation.