Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

क्षीरषष्टिकभक्तेन सम्पूज्य वृषभध्वजम् पौर्णमास्यां घृताद्यैस्तु स्नाप्य पूज्य यथाविधि

Transliteration

kṣīraṣaṣṭikabhaktena sampūjya vṛṣabhadhvajam paurṇamāsyāṃ ghṛtādyaistu snāpya pūjya yathāvidhi

Translation

On the full-moon day, having duly worshipped the Bull-bannered Lord (Śiva) with the kṣīra-ṣaṣṭika rice offering, one should bathe Him with ghee and other sacred unguents, and then worship again according to the prescribed rite. Through such disciplined pūjā, the paśu approaches Pati and the bonds (pāśa) are loosened.

Word by Word

• क्षीर-षष्टिक-भक्तेन: with an offering of śaṣṭika rice prepared with milk

• सम्पूज्य: having fully/duly worshipped

• वृषभ-ध्वजम्: the One whose banner bears the bull (Śiva)

• पौर्णमास्याम्: on the full-moon day

• घृत-आद्यैः: with ghee and the like (other auspicious substances)

• तु: indeed/then

• स्नाप्य: having bathed/abluted

• पूज्य: to be worshipped

• यथा-विदि: according to rule/ritual injunction.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva-pūjā-vidhi to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It specifies a Paurṇamāsī (full-moon) procedure: offering milk-cooked śaṣṭika rice, performing abhiṣeka with ghee and related substances, and completing worship strictly by vidhi—presenting Linga/Śiva-pūjā as a regulated means to approach Pati.

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

By naming Him Vṛṣabhadhvaja, it points to Śiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord who is approached through sacred acts; ritual purity and devotion become instruments for the pashu to move away from pāśa toward Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Paurṇamāsī-vrata aligned Śiva-pūjā with abhiṣeka (snāna) using ghee and auspicious substances, plus a specific naivedya (kṣīra-ṣaṣṭika)—a discipline supportive of Pāśupata orientation through regulated worship.