Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

माघमासे तु सम्पूज्य यः कुर्यान् नक्तभोजनम् कृशरं घृतसंयुक्तं भुञ्जानः संयतेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

māghamāse tu sampūjya yaḥ kuryān naktabhojanam kṛśaraṃ ghṛtasaṃyuktaṃ bhuñjānaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ

Translation

In the month of Māgha, having duly worshipped Śiva, one who undertakes the observance of eating only at night—consuming kṛśara (a rice-and-pulse dish) mixed with ghee, while keeping the senses restrained—fulfils the Māgha-vrata and gains its merit.

Word by Word

• माघमासे: in the month of Māgha

• तु: indeed

• सम्पूज्य: having worshipped well (after proper pūjā)

• यः: whoever

• कुर्यात्: should do/undertakes

• नक्तभोजनम्: night-eating (one meal at night)

• कृशरम्: kṛśara (rice with pulses)

• घृतसंयुक्तम्: mixed/combined with ghee

• भुञ्जानः: eating/partaking

• संयतेन्द्रियः: with restrained senses (self-controlled).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the vrata/pūjā-vidhi tradition to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links Liṅga/Śiva-pūjā with a concrete Māgha-vrata discipline—night-only eating with a simple sāttvika offering-food—showing that worship is strengthened by regulated conduct and self-restraint.

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

Śiva is approached as Pati (the Lord who frees the paśu) through devotion joined with saṃyama; the verse implies that inner control (indriya-nigraha) is a fitting means to draw near to Śiva-tattva beyond bondage (pāśa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata-based yogic restraint: naktabhojana (eating once at night) with indriya-saṃyama, performed after proper pūjā—an austerity that supports Śaiva sādhanā and purity for worship.