Shloka 34

आचार्य-धर्मलक्षण-श्रद्धाभक्तिप्राधान्यं तथा लिङ्गे ध्यान-पूजाविधानसंकेतः

Adhyaya 10

Devanagari script

मासोपवासैश्चान्यैर्वा भक्तिर्मुनिवरोत्तमाः अभक्ता भगवत्यस्मिंल् लोके गिरिगुहाशये

Transliteration

māsopavāsaiścānyairvā bhaktirmunivarottamāḥ abhaktā bhagavatyasmiṃl loke giriguhāśaye

Translation

હે મુનિવરશ્રેષ્ઠો, માસોપવાસ કે અન્ય વ્રત-આચરણોથી પણ ભક્તિ ઉત્પન્ન થાય છે; પરંતુ આ લોકમાં ગિરિ-ગુહાવાસી ભગવાન શિવ પ્રત્યે અભક્ત રહેનારા સાચી ભક્તિથી વંચિત જ રહે છે।

Word by Word

• māsa: a month

• upavāsaiḥ: by fasts/abstinences

• ca: and

• anyaiḥ: by other (means/observances)

• vā: or

• bhaktiḥ: devotion (to Pati, Shiva)

• muni-vara-uttamāḥ: O foremost among sages

• a-bhaktāḥ: those without devotion

• bhagavati: toward the Blessed Lord

• asmin: in this

• loke: world

• giri: mountain

• guhā: cave

• āśaye: the one who dwells/rests (abides).

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 prioritizes bhakti to Pati (Shiva) as the living core of Linga-oriented practice; fasting and vratas are supportive, but without devotion they do not culminate in Shiva-realization.

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

Shiva is invoked as Bhagavan and Giriguhāśaya—immanent and accessible, abiding even in remote places—signifying the Lord as the ever-present Pati who can be approached through sincere devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Month-long fasting (māsopavāsa) and allied vratas are mentioned as aids; the takeaway is that austerity must be yoked to bhakti for the Pashu (bound soul) to move toward release from pāśa (bondage).