Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

अथवा ह्येकमासं वा चरेदेवं व्रतोत्तमम् शिवलोकमवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

athavā hyekamāsaṃ vā caredevaṃ vratottamam śivalokamavāpnoti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഒരാൾ ഒരു മാസം മാത്രം ഈ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചാലും, അവൻ സംശയമില്ലാതെ ശിവലോകം പ്രാപിക്കും; ഇതിൽ സംശയിക്കേണ്ടതില്ല।

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else

• हि: indeed

• एकमासम्: for one month

• वा: even

• चरेत्: should practice/observe

• एवम्: in this manner

• व्रतोत्तमम्: the best/supreme vow

• शिवलोकम्: the realm of Śiva (Śiva-loka)

• अवाप्नोति: attains

• न: not

• अत्र: here/in this matter

• कार्या: to be done/necessary

• विचारणा: deliberation/doubt/inquiry

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It asserts the certainty of fruit (vrata-phala): even a month-long observance of the highest Shaiva vow connected with Shiva worship leads to Śiva-loka, emphasizing faith and disciplined practice over duration.

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

Śiva is presented as Pati—the sovereign bestower of liberation and divine abode—whose grace makes the result certain when the devotee (paśu) follows the prescribed vow with steadiness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Shaiva vrata (vow-observance) centered on Śiva/Liṅga worship; it aligns with Pāśupata discipline by stressing niyama (rule-bound practice) and unwavering conviction in the promised result.