Shloka 12

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

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

Devanagari script

राजतं कमलं चैव जांबूनदसुकर्णिकम् दत्त्वा भवाय विप्रेभ्यः प्रदद्याद् दक्षिणाम् अपि

Transliteration

rājataṃ kamalaṃ caiva jāṃbūnadasukarṇikam dattvā bhavāya viprebhyaḥ pradadyād dakṣiṇām api

Translation

Habiendo ofrecido a Bhava (Śiva) un loto de plata con el pericarpio labrado en oro de Jāmbūnada, debe asimismo otorgarse a los brāhmaṇas una dakṣiṇā (donativo de honor) apropiada. Esta dádiva, realizada con bhakti hacia el Pati que desata los lazos de pāśa del paśu, se vuelve medio de purificación y de mérito auspicioso.

Word by Word

• राजतम् (rājatam): silver

• कमलम् (kamalam): lotus

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• जांबूनद (jāmbūnada): Jāmbūnada-gold (fine gold)

• सु-कर्णिकम् (su-karṇikam): with a beautiful pericarp/central whorl

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given/offered

• भवाय (bhavāya): to Bhava (Śiva)

• विप्रेभ्यः (viprebhyaḥ): to brāhmaṇas

• प्रदद्याद् (pradadyād): one should give

• दक्षिणाम् (dakṣiṇām): priestly fee/honorarium

• अपि (api): also

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It links Shiva-puja to dana: a refined symbolic offering (silver lotus with golden center) is completed by dakshina to brāhmaṇas, making the rite socially and ritually whole and increasing its punya.

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

By naming him Bhava, it points to Shiva as the auspicious Lord (Pati) who governs becoming and releases the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa) through devotion expressed as worship and giving.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A puja-dāna practice is highlighted: offering a crafted lotus to Shiva and giving dakṣiṇā to officiating brāhmaṇas—an external support to inner purification aligned with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.