Shloka 21

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

आश्विने चैव विप्रेन्द्राः गोमेदकमयं शुभम् प्रवालेनैव कार्तिक्यां तथा वै मार्गशीर्षके

Transliteration

āśvine caiva viprendrāḥ gomedakamayaṃ śubham pravālenaiva kārtikyāṃ tathā vai mārgaśīrṣake

Translation

Oh, los mejores entre los brahmanes: en el mes de Āśvina debe ofrecerse un don auspicioso hecho de gomeda (hesonita). En Kārttika, del mismo modo, debe ofrecerse coral (pravāla); y también en Mārgaśīrṣa, conforme a la observancia mensual prescrita, para que el paśu (alma atada) obtenga mérito que sostiene la adoración a Śiva y afloja los lazos (pāśa) por la gracia del Señor (Pati).

Word by Word

• आश्विने: in Āśvina (month)

• च एव: and indeed

• विप्रेन्द्राः: O best among Brahmins

• गोमेदकमयम्: made of gomeda (hessonite)

• शुभम्: auspicious, beneficial

• प्रवालेन एव: with coral alone/indeed with coral

• कार्तिक्याम्: in (the month of) Kārttika

• तथा वै: likewise indeed

• मार्गशीर्षके: in (the month of) Mārgaśīrṣa

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links Shiva-oriented vrata practice with monthly, scripturally-timed dāna—offering specific auspicious substances (gomeda, coral) as supportive acts that strengthen puṇya for Linga-pūjā.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—because the merit from disciplined giving and observance is ultimately meant to be offered toward Him, helping the paśu move away from pāśa and toward grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A calendrical niyama within vrata/dāna: month-specific charitable offerings (ratna-dāna), functioning as an auxiliary discipline that supports purification and steadiness in Shiva-pūjā (a practical limb aligned with Pāśupata ethical observance).