Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

व्यपोहनस्तवनिरूपण-प्रसङ्गे नक्तभोजन-शिवव्रतविधिः (वार्षिक-प्रतिमास-क्रमः)

Devanagari script

सत्यवादी जितक्रोधः शालिगोधूमगोरसैः पक्षयोरष्टमीं यत्नाद् उपवासेन वर्तयेत्

Transliteration

satyavādī jitakrodhaḥ śāligodhūmagorasaiḥ pakṣayoraṣṭamīṃ yatnād upavāsena vartayet

Translation

Let the devotee—truth-speaking and having conquered anger—carefully observe the Aṣṭamī of both fortnights by fasting, sustaining himself only with rice, wheat, and the produce of the cow. Thus the paśu is purified of pāśa through disciplined restraint, becoming fit for Śiva’s grace (Pati-anugraha).

Word by Word

• सत्यवादी: truth-speaking, devoted to सत्य

• जितक्रोधः: one who has conquered anger

• शालि: rice

• गोधूम: wheat

• गोरसैः: with cow-products (milk, curd, ghee etc.)

• पक्षयोः: in both fortnights (waxing and waning)

• अष्टमीम्: the eighth lunar day

• यत्नात्: with effort, carefully

• उपवासेन: by fasting/abstinence

• वर्तयेत्: should observe, should conduct (the vow)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating vrata-vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes ethical purity (truthfulness, anger-control) and a regulated Aṣṭamī fast as preparatory discipline that makes Linga-pūjā efficacious and receptive to Śiva’s anugraha.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the Lord who responds to inner purification; the verse frames liberation not as mere ritual, but as grace accessed through sattvic restraint that loosens pāśa around the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Aṣṭamī-upavāsa observed in both fortnights, supported by limited sāttvika intake (rice, wheat, cow-products) and paired with yama-like disciplines—satya and krodha-jaya—aligned with Pāśupata-oriented self-control.