Shloka 54

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायां यो भवानीव्रतं चरेत् । भववन्धननिर्मुक्तः प्राप्नुयात्परमं पदम्

Transliteration

caitraśuklatṛtīyāyāṃ yo bhavānīvrataṃ caret | bhavavandhananirmuktaḥ prāpnuyātparamaṃ padam

Translation

Whoever observes the Bhavānī-vrata on the third lunar day (tṛtīyā) of the bright fortnight of Caitra is freed from the bonds of saṃsāra and attains the supreme state through the grace of Bhavānī and Śiva.

Word by Word

• caitra-śukla-tṛtīyāyām: on the bright third day of Caitra
• caitra-śukla-tṛtīyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caitra (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛtīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); compound indicating time: 'in the bright third (tithi) of Caitra'

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavānī-vratam: the vow of Bhavānī
• bhavānī-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavānī (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'Bhavānī’s vow'

• caret: should observe/practise
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhava-vandhana-nirmuktaḥ: freed from worldly bondage
• bhava-vandhana-nirmuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + vandhana (प्रातिपदिक) + nirmukta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound sense: 'freed from the bondage of saṃsāra'

• prāpnuyāt: would attain
• prāpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); with preverb pra-

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with padam

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Uma Samhita’s discourse on vows)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga here; the verse functions as a vrata-phalaśruti: observing Bhavānī-vrata on Caitra-śukla-tṛtīyā yields release from saṃsāra-bondage and attainment of the supreme state.

Significance: Merit of vrata: loosening pāśa (bondage) and orienting the sādhaka toward mokṣa through Bhavānī’s grace (and by implication Śiva’s anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that a timed vow (vrata) offered to Bhavānī with devotion can cut the pasha (bond) of saṃsāra—bhava-bandhana—and lead the seeker to the highest goal (parama padam) by divine grace.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Bhavānī-vrata belongs to Saguna upāsanā—worship of the Divine as Mother (Umā) inseparable from Śiva; such vow-based devotion is a Shaiva path where grace ripens the soul toward realization of the Supreme beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse specifically recommends observing Bhavānī-vrata on Caitra śukla tṛtīyā; in practice this is typically done with purity, fasting/regulated diet, pūjā to Umā-Śiva, japa (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and prayer for release from bondage.