Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

आषाढे मासि चाप्येवं नक्तभोजनतत्परः भूरिखण्डाज्यसंमिश्रं सक्तुभिश्चैव गोरसम्

Transliteration

āṣāḍhe māsi cāpyevaṃ naktabhojanatatparaḥ bhūrikhaṇḍājyasaṃmiśraṃ saktubhiścaiva gorasam

Translation

In the month of Āṣāḍha as well, let the sādhaka remain devoted to eating only at night, and offer to Lord Śiva cow’s milk mixed with abundant sugar and ghee, together with roasted barley-flour (saktu).

Word by Word

• āṣāḍhe māsi: in the month of Āṣāḍha

• ca api: and also

• evaṃ: thus/in this manner

• nakta-bhojana-tat-paraḥ: intent on the vow of eating at night (only)

• bhūri: abundant

• khaṇḍa: sugar (crystal sugar)

• ājya: ghee/clarified butter

• saṃmiśram: mixed/combined

• saktubhiḥ: with saktu (roasted grain flour, esp. barley)

• ca eva: and indeed

• go-rasam: cow’s milk (lit. essence/juice of the cow)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating vrata and puja-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 a specific Āṣāḍha-month discipline—nakta-bhojana—and a sattvic naivedya (milk with sugar and ghee, plus saktu) as a concrete method of honoring the Liṅga with purity and restraint.

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

Śiva is treated as Pati—the Lord who is approached through inner control (vrata) and pure offerings; the verse emphasizes that devotion expressed through discipline and sattva-oriented worship aligns the paśu (soul) toward Śiva-tattva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The practice is a vrata-based sādhanā: eating only at night (nakta-bhojana) coupled with offering prescribed naivedya to the Liṅga—supporting pasha-kṣaya (loosening bondage) through regulated conduct.