Shloka 1

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

Uma–Maheshvara Vrata, Shula-dana, and Month-wise Ekabhakta Vrata

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे शिवव्रतकथनं नाम त्र्यशीतितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच उमामहेश्वरं वक्ष्ये व्रतमीश्वरभाषितम् नरनार्यादिजन्तूनां हिताय मुनिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge śivavratakathanaṃ nāma tryaśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca umāmaheśvaraṃ vakṣye vratamīśvarabhāṣitam naranāryādijantūnāṃ hitāya munisattamāḥ

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrvabhāga, begins the eighty-fourth chapter called “The Teaching of Śiva’s Vrata.” Sūta said: “O best of sages, for the welfare of all beings—men, women, and the rest—I shall expound the Umā–Maheśvara Vrata, as spoken by the Lord Himself.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrvabhāge: in the first section (Pūrvabhāga)

• śiva-vrata-kathanaṃ: narration of Śiva’s vow/observance

• nāma: named

• tryaśītitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the eighty-fourth chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• umā-maheśvaram: the (vow/observance) of Umā and Maheśvara / pertaining to Umā–Maheśvara

• vakṣye: I shall speak/expound

• vratam: the sacred observance (vrata)

• īśvara-bhāṣitam: spoken by the Lord (Pati)

• nara-nārī-ādi-jantūnām: of men, women, and other beings (all embodied souls, paśus)

• hitāya: for the benefit/welfare

• muni-sattamāḥ: O best of sages

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Uma (Parvati)
• Maheshvara

FAQs

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

It introduces a Shiva-centered vrata taught by Īśvara Himself, framing disciplined observance as a universal aid for embodied souls (paśus) to approach Pati (Shiva) through devotion and right practice.

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

Shiva is presented as Īśvara/Pati—the authoritative teacher whose spoken instruction becomes a liberating means for beings bound by pāśa, indicating His role as revealer of dharma and dispenser of welfare.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata (sacred observance) dedicated to Umā–Maheśvara is highlighted, implying regulated conduct, worship, and vow-based discipline that supports Shaiva sādhanā and readiness for grace (anugraha).