Shloka 18

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

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

Devanagari script

लभते नात्र संदेहः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् कार्तिक्यां वा तु या नारी एकभक्तेन वर्तते

Transliteration

labhate nātra saṃdehaḥ satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham kārtikyāṃ vā tu yā nārī ekabhaktena vartate

Translation

She surely attains the promised fruit—of this there is no doubt. Truly, truly I declare: any woman who, in the month of Kārttika, lives with ekabhakti, single-pointed devotion toward Pati (the Lord), is granted that grace.

Word by Word

• लभते: attains/obtains

• न: not

• अत्र: here/in this matter

• संदेहः: doubt

• सत्यं सत्यं: truthfully, truly (emphatic)

• वदामि: I speak/I declare

• अहम्: I

• कार्तिक्यां: in (the month of) Kārttika

• वा तु: indeed/and in particular

• या: who

• नारी: woman

• एकभक्तेन: with single-minded devotion (one-pointed bhakti)

• वर्तते: lives/abides/observes (a vow)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; conveying the phala-shruti of Kartika observance in a Shaiva frame)

FAQs

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

It functions as a phala-shruti: during Kārttika, single-minded devotion to Shiva (often expressed through Linga-puja and vrata) is affirmed as certainly fruitful, emphasizing anugraha (Shiva’s grace) as the decisive factor.

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

By stressing certainty and “truth upon truth,” the verse highlights Shiva as Pati who grants assured results to the pashu when devotion becomes one-pointed—grace is not random but responds to steadfast inner orientation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Kartika-vrata anchored in ekabhakti—practically, steady daily worship and disciplined conduct; yogically, ekāgratā (one-pointedness) that loosens pāśa (bondage) and turns the soul toward Pati.