Shloka 28

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

सहस्रकमलालाभे तदर्धेनापि पूजयेत् तदर्धार्धेन वा रुद्रम् अष्टोत्तरशतेन वा

Transliteration

sahasrakamalālābhe tadardhenāpi pūjayet tadardhārdhena vā rudram aṣṭottaraśatena vā

Translation

ಸಹಸ್ರ ಕಮಲಗಳು ದೊರಕದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅದರ ಅರ್ಧದಿಂದಲಾದರೂ ರುದ್ರನನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು; ಅಥವಾ ಆ ಅರ್ಧದ ಅರ್ಧದಿಂದ (ಚತುರ್ಥಾಂಶದಿಂದ); ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ಅಷ್ಟೋತ್ತರಶತ (108)ರಿಂದ।

Word by Word

• सहस्र (sahasra): a thousand

• कमल (kamala): lotus

• अलाभे (alābhe): in the non-obtaining, when not available

• तदर्धेन (tadardhena): with half of that

• अपि (api): even

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): one should worship

• तदर्धार्धेन (tadardhārdhena): with half of the half (a quarter)

• वा (vā): or

• रुद्रम् (rudram): Rudra, Lord Śiva

• अष्टोत्तरशतेन (aṣṭottaraśatena): with one hundred and eight

• वा (vā): or

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja norms to the sages, with inferred puja-vidhi context)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes a graded rule for lotus offerings—1000, 500, 250, or at least 108—teaching that Linga-puja is valid when performed with sincerity even if resources are limited.

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

By permitting reduced offerings without diminishing the act of worship, the verse implies Shiva as Pati—grace-giving and not constrained by external quantity—responding to the devotee’s inner bhakti and intention.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical puja-vidhi principle: maintaining regular Rudra/Linga worship with prescribed counts (notably 108), aligning disciplined devotion with the Pashupata aim of loosening pasha (bondage) through steady worship.