Shloka 4

व्यपोहनस्तवनिरूपण-प्रसङ्गे नक्तभोजन-शिवव्रतविधिः (वार्षिक-प्रतिमास-क्रमः)

Devanagari script

वर्षमेकं तु भुञ्जानो नक्तं यः पूजयेच्छिवम् सर्वयज्ञफलं प्राप्य स याति परमां गतिम्

Transliteration

varṣamekaṃ tu bhuñjāno naktaṃ yaḥ pūjayecchivam sarvayajñaphalaṃ prāpya sa yāti paramāṃ gatim

Translation

Quiconque, durant une année entière, ne se nourrit que du repas nocturne (nakta) et adore le Seigneur Śiva, obtient le fruit de tous les sacrifices ; et, fort de ce mérite, le paśu, l’âme liée, parvient à l’état suprême : l’union avec Pati, le Seigneur au-delà de tout lien.

Word by Word

• वर्षम् (varṣam): for a year

• एकम् (ekam): one

• तु (tu): indeed

• भुञ्जानः (bhuñjānaḥ): eating/sustaining oneself

• नक्तम् (naktam): at night only (night-meal vow)

• यः (yaḥ): who

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): should worship

• शिवम् (śivam): Śiva, the auspicious Lord

• सर्व-यज्ञ-फलम् (sarva-yajña-phalam): the result of all Vedic sacrifices

• प्राप्य (prāpya): having attained

• सः (saḥ): he

• याति (yāti): goes/attains

• परमाम् (paramām): supreme

• गतिम् (gatim): state, goal (liberation).

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 declares that disciplined Linga/Śiva-pūjā combined with the nakta-vrata for a year grants the cumulative merit of all yajñas, showing Śiva-pūjā as a direct, accessible path to the highest spiritual goal.

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

Śiva is presented as Pati—the supreme bestower of the “paramā gati,” whose grace can surpass ritual multiplicity and lead the paśu (individual soul) beyond pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights nakta-vrata (eating only at night) paired with regular Śiva-pūjā—an austerity that supports inner restraint and aligns with Pāśupata-style purification through vrata and devotion.