Shloka 54

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायां यो भवानीव्रतं चरेत् । भववन्धननिर्मुक्तः प्राप्नुयात्परमं पदम्

Transliteration

caitraśuklatṛtīyāyāṃ yo bhavānīvrataṃ caret | bhavavandhananirmuktaḥ prāpnuyātparamaṃ padam

Translation

చైత్ర శుక్ల పక్ష తృతీయ నాడు ఎవడు భవానీ వ్రతాన్ని ఆచరిస్తాడో, వాడు భవబంధనాల నుండి విముక్తుడై పరమ పదాన్ని పొందును।

Word by Word

• caitra-śukla-tṛtīyāyām: on the bright third day of Caitra
• caitra-śukla-tṛtīyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caitra (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛtīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); compound indicating time: 'in the bright third (tithi) of Caitra'

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavānī-vratam: the vow of Bhavānī
• bhavānī-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavānī (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'Bhavānī’s vow'

• caret: should observe/practise
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhava-vandhana-nirmuktaḥ: freed from worldly bondage
• bhava-vandhana-nirmuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + vandhana (प्रातिपदिक) + nirmukta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound sense: 'freed from the bondage of saṃsāra'

• prāpnuyāt: would attain
• prāpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); with preverb pra-

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with padam

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Uma Samhita’s discourse on vows)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga here; the verse functions as a vrata-phalaśruti: observing Bhavānī-vrata on Caitra-śukla-tṛtīyā yields release from saṃsāra-bondage and attainment of the supreme state.

Significance: Merit of vrata: loosening pāśa (bondage) and orienting the sādhaka toward mokṣa through Bhavānī’s grace (and by implication Śiva’s anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that a timed vow (vrata) offered to Bhavānī with devotion can cut the pasha (bond) of saṃsāra—bhava-bandhana—and lead the seeker to the highest goal (parama padam) by divine grace.

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

Bhavānī-vrata belongs to Saguna upāsanā—worship of the Divine as Mother (Umā) inseparable from Śiva; such vow-based devotion is a Shaiva path where grace ripens the soul toward realization of the Supreme beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse specifically recommends observing Bhavānī-vrata on Caitra śukla tṛtīyā; in practice this is typically done with purity, fasting/regulated diet, pūjā to Umā-Śiva, japa (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and prayer for release from bondage.