Shloka 28

Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा

Devanagari script

बहुना किं प्रलापेन भवभक्ता द्विजोत्तमाः संपूज्याः सर्वयत्नेन शिववन्नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

bahunā kiṃ pralāpena bhavabhaktā dvijottamāḥ saṃpūjyāḥ sarvayatnena śivavannātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

多く語って何になろう。おお、最勝の再生者よ、バヴァ（シヴァ）に帰依する者たちは、あらゆる努力をもって礼拝されるべきである——まさにシヴァ御自身を敬うがごとく。これに疑いはない。

Word by Word

• बहुना: with much

• किं: what (use)

• प्रलापेन: with idle talk/excess speech

• भवभक्ता: devotees of Bhava (Śiva)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)

• संपूज्याः: to be fully worshipped/honoured

• सर्वयत्नेन: with all effort/by every means

• शिववत्: like Śiva (as Śiva)

• नात्र: not here/indeed

• संशयः: doubt

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-dharma to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Linga-pūjā is incomplete without bhakta-sevā: Shiva’s devotees are to be honoured as Shiva, making devotion and service a core limb of worship.

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

By equating honour to Shiva’s devotees with honour to Shiva, it implies Shiva’s presence through grace (anugraha) in those aligned with Pati, revealing Shiva-tattva as accessible via devotion and communion with His bhaktas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhakta-satkara (reverent reception and service) is highlighted as a practical limb of Pashupata-oriented discipline—reducing egoic bondage (pāśa) in the pashu through humility before Shiva’s devotees.