Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

पृथिवीं भाजनं कृत्वा भुक्त्वा पर्वसु मानवः अहोरात्रेण चैकेन त्रिरात्रफलमश्नुते

Transliteration

pṛthivīṃ bhājanaṃ kṛtvā bhuktvā parvasu mānavaḥ ahorātreṇa caikena trirātraphalamaśnute

Translation

On sacred parva days, if a person makes the earth itself his vessel and eats with humility and restraint, then by observing a single day-and-night discipline he attains merit equal to a three-night vow. Such self-limitation weakens pāśa (bondage) and turns the paśu (embodied soul) toward Pati, Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• पृथिवीं: the earth

• भाजनं: a bowl, vessel

• कृत्वा: having made

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten, taking food

• पर्वसु: on parva days (sacred lunar/ritual junctions)

• मानवः: a human being

• अहोरात्रेण: by a day-and-night (24-hour observance)

• च: and

• एकेन: by one (single)

• त्रिरात्रफलम्: the fruit/merit of three nights

• अश्नुते: obtains, enjoys

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a purity-discipline (niyama) for parva days: humble, restrained eating as an austerity that amplifies merit—supporting eligibility (adhikāra) for Śiva-pūjā and Linga-upāsanā.

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

By linking intensified merit to self-restraint, it implies Śiva as Pati—the liberating Lord—approached through inner purification that loosens pāśa binding the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A parva-day vrata: observing a single ahorātra discipline with simple, earth-based eating (symbolizing humility and non-attachment), yielding the fruit of a longer trirātra vow.