Shloka 20

Aghora-Mantra Japa: Graded Expiations, Pañcagavya Purification, and Homa for Mahāpātaka-Nivṛtti

Devanagari script

आप्यायस्वेति च क्षीरं दधिक्राव्णेति चाहरेत् गव्यं दधि नवं साक्षात् कापिलं वै पितामह

Transliteration

āpyāyasveti ca kṣīraṃ dadhikrāvṇeti cāharet gavyaṃ dadhi navaṃ sākṣāt kāpilaṃ vai pitāmaha

Translation

“ആപ്യായസ്വ” മന്ത്രം ചൊല്ലി പാൽ അർപ്പിക്കണം; “ദധിക്രാവ്ണ” ജപിച്ച് പുതുതായി പശുവിന്റെ തൈരും കൊണ്ടുവരണം. ഹേ പിതാമഹാ, ഇത് കപിലാ പശുവിന്റെ പ്രത്യക്ഷ ശുദ്ധ നൈവേദ്യം, രുദ്രവിധിക്ക് യോഗ്യം.

Word by Word

• āpyāyasva iti: with the mantra “Āpyāyasva” (may you be nourished/increase)

• ca: and

• kṣīram: milk

• dadhikrāvṇā iti: with the mantra “Dadhikrāvan” (the curd/milk-related Vedic formula)

• ca: and

• āharet: one should bring/offer

• gavyam: from a cow, bovine

• dadhi: curd/yogurt

• navam: fresh, newly prepared

• sākṣāt: directly, in its pure form

• kāpilam: Kapila-type (tawny-cow/kapila) offering

• vai: indeed

• pitāmaha: O Pitāmaha (Grandfather—Brahmā).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a ritual prescription; internally framed as instruction addressed to Brahma—Pitāmaha)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It specifies abhiṣeka-dravyas (milk and fresh cow-curd) to be offered with Vedic mantras, emphasizing that mantra and pure substances together purify the pashu (soul) and please Pati (Śiva) in Linga-pūjā.

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

Śiva is approached as Pati who is ritually invoked through Vedic speech and sattvic offerings; the “nourishing” substances signify His grace that strengthens and releases the bound pashu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Rudra-linga abhiṣeka with milk and fresh curd, coordinated with Vedic mantras—an outer discipline supporting inner Pāśupata orientation toward purification and surrender.