Shloka 28

Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा

Devanagari script

बहुना किं प्रलापेन भवभक्ता द्विजोत्तमाः संपूज्याः सर्वयत्नेन शिववन्नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

bahunā kiṃ pralāpena bhavabhaktā dvijottamāḥ saṃpūjyāḥ sarvayatnena śivavannātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Para que serve tanta fala? Ó melhor entre os duas-vezes-nascidos, os devotos de Bhava (Śiva) devem ser honrados com todo empenho—de fato, como se honra o próprio Śiva; disso não há dúvida.

Word by Word

• बहुना: with much

• किं: what (use)

• प्रलापेन: with idle talk/excess speech

• भवभक्ता: devotees of Bhava (Śiva)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)

• संपूज्याः: to be fully worshipped/honoured

• सर्वयत्नेन: with all effort/by every means

• शिववत्: like Śiva (as Śiva)

• नात्र: not here/indeed

• संशयः: doubt

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-dharma to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Linga-pūjā is incomplete without bhakta-sevā: Shiva’s devotees are to be honoured as Shiva, making devotion and service a core limb of worship.

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

By equating honour to Shiva’s devotees with honour to Shiva, it implies Shiva’s presence through grace (anugraha) in those aligned with Pati, revealing Shiva-tattva as accessible via devotion and communion with His bhaktas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhakta-satkara (reverent reception and service) is highlighted as a practical limb of Pashupata-oriented discipline—reducing egoic bondage (pāśa) in the pashu through humility before Shiva’s devotees.