Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

कृष्णं गोमिथुनं दद्यात् पूजयेच्चैव शंकरम् भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणांश्चैव यथाविभवविस्तरम्

Transliteration

kṛṣṇaṃ gomithunaṃ dadyāt pūjayeccaiva śaṃkaram bhojayedbrāhmaṇāṃścaiva yathāvibhavavistaram

Translation

One should donate a black-hued pair of cows, worship Śaṅkara (Śiva), and feed the Brāhmaṇas as well, enlarging the offering according to one’s means. Such dāna and pūjā, done for Pati (Śiva), loosen the pāśa—the bond of worldly grasping—that binds the paśu (the individual soul).

Word by Word

• कृष्णम्: black-hued (cow)

• गोमिथुनम्: a pair of cows (bull and cow)

• दद्यात्: should give/donate

• पूजयेच्च: and should worship

• एव: indeed

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• भोजयेत्: should feed

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brāhmaṇas

• च एव: and also

• यथा: according to

• विभव: capacity/means

• विस्तारम्: extent, elaboration

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

It links Śiva-pūjā with dāna and feeding Brāhmaṇas, presenting worship as a complete dharmic act where devotion is supported by generosity and service, done according to one’s capacity.

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

Śiva is invoked as Śaṅkara, the beneficent Pati who is pleased by sincere pūjā and selfless giving—acts that help the bound paśu move toward purity and freedom from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical pūjā-vidhi emphasis: go-dāna (donation of a cow-pair) and brāhmaṇa-bhojana as auxiliary observances that reinforce Śiva-bhakti through tyāga (renunciation of possessiveness).