Shloka 27

Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi

Condensed Ritual Sequence

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वानुमोदयेच्चापि स याति परमां गतिम् यो दद्याद् घृतदीपं च सकृल्लिङ्गस्य चाग्रतः

Transliteration

śrutvānumodayeccāpi sa yāti paramāṃ gatim yo dadyād ghṛtadīpaṃ ca sakṛlliṅgasya cāgrataḥ

Translation

Even one who merely hears of this and gives reverent assent attains the supreme state. How much more the one who, even once, offers a ghee-lamp before the Liṅga: he reaches the highest goal, draws near to Pati (Śiva), and loosens the pāśa-bonds that bind the paśu, the individual soul.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• अनुमोदयेत्: should approve/assent/rejoice

• च अपि: even/also

• सः: he

• याति: goes/attains

• परमाम्: supreme

• गतिम्: state/goal

• यः: whoever

• दद्यात्: would give/offer

• घृतदीपम्: a lamp with ghee (ghee-lamp)

• च: and

• सकृत्: once/even a single time

• लिङ्गस्य: of the Liṅga

• च अग्रतः: in front of/before

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It elevates even simple participation—hearing and reverently approving—as spiritually potent, and declares that offering a single ghee-lamp before the Liṅga yields supreme merit leading toward the highest gati (liberative attainment) through Śiva-bhakti.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati, the supreme goal (paramā gati) and the liberator: devotion directed to the Liṅga draws the paśu toward Him and diminishes pāśa (bondage), aligning with the Shaiva Siddhānta triad of Pati–Paśu–Pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Deepa-dāna (offering a ghee lamp) before the Śiva-Liṅga is highlighted as a concise, high-merit pūjā act; it supports inner purification that complements Pāśupata-oriented discipline by orienting the mind toward Śiva.