Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

स याति वायुसायुज्यं वायुवत्सर्वगो भवेत् प्राप्ते भाद्रपदे मासे कृत्वैवं नक्तभोजनम्

Transliteration

sa yāti vāyusāyujyaṃ vāyuvatsarvago bhavet prāpte bhādrapade māse kṛtvaivaṃ naktabhojanam

Translation

When the month of Bhādrapada arrives, by observing this naktabhojana—eating only at night—the devotee attains sāyujya with Vāyu and becomes all-pervading like the Wind, moving unobstructed, as Pati loosens the bonds (pāśa) through the power of disciplined observance.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he, the practitioner

• याति (yāti): attains, goes to

• वायु-सायुज्यम् (vāyu-sāyujyam): union/identity with Vāyu, the Wind-principle

• वायु-वत् (vāyu-vat): like the wind

• सर्व-गः (sarva-gaḥ): going everywhere, all-pervading

• भवेत् (bhavet): becomes

• प्राप्ते (prāpte): when it has arrived/when it comes

• भाद्रपदे मासे (bhādrapade māse): in the month of Bhādrapada

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done/after performing

• एवम् (evam): thus, in this manner

• नक्त-भोजनम् (nakta-bhojanam): eating at night only (a vrata of restricted diet).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

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

It presents a concrete Shaiva vrata (naktabhojana in Bhādrapada) as a discipline that supports Linga-bhakti, teaching that regulated living offered to Mahadeva yields transformative spiritual fruit.

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

Though Vāyu is named, the implied Shaiva doctrine is that such fruits arise by Pati’s grace: Shiva, as Lord of yoga and the remover of pāśa, grants expansion beyond limitation—symbolized by becoming “like the wind.”

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Naktabhojana-vrata—taking food only at night during Bhādrapada—an austerity aligned with Pāśupata-style restraint (niyama) to purify the pashu (soul) and weaken bondage.