Shloka 12

व्यपोहनस्तवनिरूपण-प्रसङ्गे नक्तभोजन-शिवव्रतविधिः (वार्षिक-प्रतिमास-क्रमः)

Devanagari script

सर्ववेलामतिक्रम्य नक्तभोजनमुत्तमम् हविष्यभोजनं स्नानं सत्यमाहारलाघवम्

Transliteration

sarvavelāmatikramya naktabhojanamuttamam haviṣyabhojanaṃ snānaṃ satyamāhāralāghavam

Translation

എല്ലാ ഭക്ഷണസമയങ്ങളും അതിക്രമിച്ച് രാത്രിയിൽ മാത്രം ഭക്ഷണം ചെയ്യുന്നതാണ് ഉത്തമ വ്രതം. ഹവിഷ്യ (ശുദ്ധ നൈവേദ്യ) ഭോജനം, സ്നാനം, സത്യപാലനം, ലഘുആഹാരം—ഇവ ശിവപൂജയിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠം; ഇവ പശുവിന്റെ പാശം ശിഥിലമാക്കി മനസ്സിനെ പതി ശിവനിൽ നിവേശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सर्ववेलाम् (sarva-velām): all times/meal-times

• अतिक्रम्य (atikramya): having gone beyond/observed restraint beyond

• नक्तभोजनम् (nakta-bhojanam): night-only eating

• उत्तमम् (uttamam): best/supreme

• हविष्यभोजनम् (haviṣya-bhojanam): eating haviṣya, pure ritual food

• स्नानम् (snānam): bathing/purificatory bath

• सत्यम् (satyam): truthfulness

• आहारलाघवम् (āhāra-lāghavam): lightness/moderation in food

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating vrata/puja discipline; inferred typical Linga Purana frame)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It lists key preparatory disciplines—night-only eating, pure ritual food, bathing, truthfulness, and moderation—meant to purify the worshipper so Linga-puja becomes inwardly effective, not merely external.

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

By implying Shiva as Pati, the Lord who is approached through purification and self-restraint; these niyamas refine the paśu so the mind can align with Shiva-tattva beyond ordinary habits and impulses.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vrata-niyamas aligned with Pashupata discipline: regulated diet (nakta-bhojana, āhāra-lāghava), purity (snāna), and ethical truth (satya), supporting steadiness for puja and meditation.