Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

द्वयोर् मासस्य पञ्चम्योर् द्वयोः प्रतिपदोर्नरः क्षीरधाराव्रतं कुर्यात् सो ऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

Transliteration

dvayor māsasya pañcamyor dvayoḥ pratipadornaraḥ kṣīradhārāvrataṃ kuryāt so 'śvamedhaphalaṃ labhet

Translation

दोन महिन्यांच्या दोन्ही पंचमींना व दोन्ही प्रतिपदांना मनुष्याने क्षीरधारा-व्रत करावे—शिवलिंगावर दुधाची अखंड धारा अर्पण करावी; त्यामुळे अश्वमेध यज्ञाचे फळ मिळते।

Word by Word

• dvayoḥ: of two

• māsasya: of months

• pañcamyoḥ: on the fifth lunar days

• dvayoḥ: on two

• pratipadoḥ: first lunar days

• naraḥ: a man (devotee)

• kṣīra-dhārā-vratam: the vow/observance of a milk-stream offering

• kuryāt: should perform

• saḥ: he

• aśvamedha-phalam: the merit/fruition of the Aśvamedha

• labhet: obtains

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates liṅga-abhiṣeka with an unbroken milk-stream (kṣīra-dhārā) to the status of a supreme Vedic merit, declaring it equal in fruit to the Aśvamedha—showing that devoted Śiva-pūjā can surpass or equal grand śrauta rites.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the Lord who grants liberation and merit directly through devotion; the liṅga becomes the accessible locus of Śiva-tattva where the bound pashu approaches the Lord and loosens pāśa through disciplined worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata-based practice of continuous milk abhiṣeka (kṣīradhārā) to the Śiva-liṅga on specified tithis (pañcamī and pratipadā), emphasizing niyama (vowed discipline) as a Shaiva means for great puṇya.