Shloka 67

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि भवोद्वाहं शुचिस्मितः श्रावयेद्वा द्विजाञ्छुद्धान् वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान्

Transliteration

yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi bhavodvāhaṃ śucismitaḥ śrāvayedvā dvijāñchuddhān vedavedāṅgapāragān

Translation

यः शुचिस्मितः भवोद्वाहं पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि, श्रावयेद्वा शुद्धान् द्विजान् वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान्।

Word by Word

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• पठेत् (paṭhet): should recite

• शृणुयात् (śṛṇuyāt): should hear/listen

• वा अपि (vā api): or even

• भवोद्वाहम् (bhavodvāham): the narrative/rite called ‘Bhava-udvāha’ (Bhava’s sacred wedding/ceremonial account)

• शुचिस्मितः (śuci-smitaḥ): with a pure, serene smile (in a purified disposition)

• श्रावयेत् (śrāvayet): should cause to be recited/read aloud

• वा (vā): or

• द्विजान् (dvijān): the twice-born (Brahmins)

• शुद्धान् (śuddhān): purified

• वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान् (veda-vedāṅga-pāragān): those proficient in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas (auxiliary disciplines).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)

FAQs

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

It teaches that śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation) of Śaiva sacred narratives—here, Bhava’s rite—are themselves purifying acts that support devotion to Pati (Śiva), which is central to Linga-oriented worship.

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

By naming Śiva as “Bhava” and presenting His sacred account as intrinsically sanctifying, the verse implies that contact with Śiva-tattva through sound (śabda) and remembrance loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul) by grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights devotional discipline through śravaṇa and pāṭha, and the meritorious act of sponsoring recitation for Veda-versed, purified dvijas—an ancillary Śaiva practice supportive of pūjā and inner purification.