Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

याम्यमासाद्य वै लोकं यमेन सह मोदते फाल्गुने चैव सम्प्राप्ते कुर्याद्वै नक्तभोजनम्

Transliteration

yāmyamāsādya vai lokaṃ yamena saha modate phālgune caiva samprāpte kuryādvai naktabhojanam

Translation

Having reached Yama’s realm, one rejoices there in Yama’s company. Therefore, when the month of Phālguna arrives, one should undertake the vow of eating only at night (naktabhojana). This observance purifies the bound paśu and supports the Shaiva path of restraint leading toward the grace of Pati (Śiva).

Word by Word

• याम्यम् (yāmyam): belonging to Yama, of Yama

• आसाद्य (āsādya): having reached, attaining

• वै (vai): indeed

• लोकम् (lokaṃ): world, realm

• यमेन (yamena): with Yama

• सह (saha): together with

• मोदते (modate): rejoices, delights

• फाल्गुने (phālgune): in (the month of) Phālguna

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): certainly

• सम्प्राप्ते (samprāpte): when it has arrived, upon coming

• कुर्यात् (kuryāt): should do, should undertake

• वै (vai): indeed

• नक्तभोजनम् (naktabhojanam): night-eating (taking food only at night), a vrata/discipline.

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

It links a concrete Shaiva discipline—Phālguna naktabhojana (eating only at night)—to post-death merit, implying that bodily restraint supports purity and steadiness for Shiva-oriented worship and vrata-based Linga-puja.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing restraint and karmic purification for the bound soul (paśu), it points to the Shaiva Siddhanta trajectory where the soul reduces pāśa (bondage) and becomes fit to receive Pati’s (Śiva’s) anugraha (grace), which alone culminates liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata of naktabhojana during Phālguna—an ascetic regulation of diet aligned with Shaiva purification and supportive of Pāśupata-style self-discipline (niyama) as a preparatory practice.