Shloka 22

ग्रहसंख्यावर्णनम् — ध्रुवस्य तपोबलात् ध्रुवस्थानप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

प्राङ्मुखो नियतो भूत्वा जजाप प्रीतमानसः शाकमूलफलाहारः संवत्सरमतन्द्रितः

Transliteration

prāṅmukho niyato bhūtvā jajāpa prītamānasaḥ śākamūlaphalāhāraḥ saṃvatsaramatandritaḥ

Translation

Tourné vers l’est, discipliné et maître de lui, il accomplit le japa, l’esprit rempli de bhakti. Ne vivant que de légumes, de racines et de fruits, il poursuivit cette observance une année entière sans relâche—orientant avec constance le paśu (l’âme individuelle) vers Pati, le Seigneur Śiva.

Word by Word

• प्राङ्मुखः: facing east

• नियतः: restrained, regulated

• भूत्वा: having become

• जजाप: he repeated (mantra), performed japa

• प्रीतमानसः: with a pleased/devoted mind

• शाक: vegetables/greens

• मूल: roots

• फल: fruits

• आहारः: whose food/diet

• संवत्सरम्: for a year

• अतन्द्रितः: untiring, unnegligent, vigilant

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the inner prerequisites for fruitful Linga-upāsanā—niyama (discipline), continuous japa, and sāttvika austerity—so the worship becomes a transformative turning of the soul (pashu) toward Śiva (Pati), not merely an external rite.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the supreme Pati who responds to sustained devotion and purity; the verse frames spiritual effort as a means to loosen pāśa (bondage) through focused japa and regulated living, preparing the aspirant for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata-like discipline combining east-facing mantra-japa, vigilance (atandrita), and a simple plant-based diet (śāka-mūla-phala), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented tapas and niyama as supports for Śiva-upāsanā.