Shloka 33

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire

Devanagari script

पयोव्रतोऽभवन्मासम्मासम्मासं शाक फलाशनः । मासम्मुष्टितिलाहारो मासं पानीयभोजनः

Transliteration

payovrato'bhavanmāsammāsammāsaṃ śāka phalāśanaḥ | māsammuṣṭitilāhāro māsaṃ pānīyabhojanaḥ

Translation

അവൻ ഒരു മാസം പയോവ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചു; അടുത്ത മാസം ശാകവും ഫലവും മാത്രം ആഹരിച്ചു. മറ്റൊരു മാസം മുഷ്ടിമാത്രം എള്ളുകൊണ്ട് ജീവിച്ചു; പിന്നെ ഒരു മാസം ജലം മാത്രമേ ആഹാരമായി സ്വീകരിച്ചുള്ളൂ.

Word by Word

• पयोव्रतः: one observing a milk-vow
• पयोव्रतः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस्-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; (पयः-आहार-नियमः)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• शाक: vegetables
• शाक: कर्म (कर्म/Object—food)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular (as diet item)

• फलाशनः: one who eats fruits
• फलाशनः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject—appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल-आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; (फलम् अश्नाति इति)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• मुष्टितिलाहारः: one whose food is a handful of sesame
• मुष्टितिलाहारः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject—appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि-तिल-आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; (मुष्टिमात्र-तिल-आहारः)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• पानीयभोजनः: one whose food is only water/liquid
• पानीयभोजनः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject—appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पानीय-भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; (पानीयम् एव भोजनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights progressive austerity—reducing dependence on food and sense-comforts—so the devotee’s will becomes purified and single-pointed toward Pati (Shiva), aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on discipline as a support for grace (anugraha).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Such vows commonly accompany Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-puja—where bodily restraint, purity, and steadiness of mind make the offerings, japa, and dhyana more sattvic and receptive to Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured vrata (fasting discipline) is indicated; it can be paired with daily Linga-abhisheka, Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and simple purity observances such as bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha, according to one’s capacity.