व्यपोहनस्तवनिरूपण-प्रसङ्गे नक्तभोजन-शिवव्रतविधिः (वार्षिक-प्रतिमास-क्रमः)
चैत्रे ऽपि रुद्रमभ्यर्च्य कुर्याद्वै नक्तभोजनम् शाल्यन्नं पयसा युक्तं घृतेन च यथासुखम्
caitre 'pi rudramabhyarcya kuryādvai naktabhojanam śālyannaṃ payasā yuktaṃ ghṛtena ca yathāsukham
แม้ในเดือนไจตรา เมื่อบูชาพระรุทระโดยถูกต้องแล้ว พึงถือวัตรนกตโภชนะ คือฉันอาหารเฉพาะยามค่ำคืน อาจฉันข้าวสุกจากข้าวศาลีคลุกน้ำนม และตามสมควรแก่ศรัทธาด้วยเนยใส (กี)
Suta Goswami (narrating vrata-vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It prescribes a concrete niyama (naktabhojana) alongside Rudra-archana, showing that Linga/Rudra worship is perfected by disciplined conduct, not merely by offerings.
By naming Him Rudra and making Him the object of regular monthly observance, the verse implies Śiva as Pati—the Lord who accepts devotion and purifies the paśu (bound soul) through vrata and worship.
A vrata-based niyama: eating only at night (naktabhojana) with simple sāttvika food (śāli-rice with milk and ghee), supporting purity, restraint, and steadiness in Rudra-upāsanā.