Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

यावकं चौदनं दत्त्वा सक्षीरं सघृतं द्विजाः भोजयेद् ब्राह्मणाञ्शिष्टाञ् जपेच्छान्तिं विशेषतः

Transliteration

yāvakaṃ caudanaṃ dattvā sakṣīraṃ saghṛtaṃ dvijāḥ bhojayed brāhmaṇāñśiṣṭāñ japecchāntiṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

यावक धान्य व शिजवलेला भात, दूध व तूप यांसह दान देऊन द्विजाने शिष्ट व विद्वान ब्राह्मणांना भोजन घालावे; नंतर विशेषतः शांती-जप करावा, ज्यायोगे पति-शिवकृपेने पशूचे पाश शिथिल होतील।

Word by Word

• यावकम् (yāvakam): barley/coarse grain offering

• चौदनम् (caudanam): cooked rice/food (odana)

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given/offered

• स-क्षीरम् (sa-kṣīram): with milk

• स-घृतम् (sa-ghṛtam): with ghee

• द्विजाः (dvijāḥ): the twice-born (ritual-eligible practitioners)

• भोजयेत् (bhojayet): should feed

• ब्राह्मणान् (brāhmaṇān): Brāhmaṇas

• शिष्टान् (śiṣṭān): disciplined, cultured, learned/virtuous

• जपेत् (japet): should recite (mantra)

• शान्तिम् (śāntim): pacification/appeasement rite

• विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ): especially, with particular emphasis

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It links Linga-centered Shiva-dharma with sattvic dana: offering simple grains with milk and ghee, feeding worthy Brāhmaṇas, and completing the act with śānti-japa—purifying the worshipper and stabilizing the rite for Shiva’s grace.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati, the Lord whose anugraha (grace) is approached through right action (dana), right recipients (śiṣṭa-brāhmaṇas), and mantra-japa that pacifies inner and outer obstacles binding the Pashu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Brahmana-bhojana (feeding qualified Brāhmaṇas) as dana, followed by śānti-japa (pacificatory mantra recitation), a practical Shiva-puja adjunct that removes impediments and supports steadiness of mind.