Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10
व्यपोहनस्तवनिरूपण-प्रसङ्गे नक्तभोजन-शिवव्रतविधिः (वार्षिक-प्रतिमास-क्रमः)
उपवासात् परं भैक्ष्यं भैक्ष्यात् परम् अयाचितम् अयाचितात् परं नक्तं तस्मान् नक्तेन वर्तयेत्
upavāsāt paraṃ bhaikṣyaṃ bhaikṣyāt param ayācitam ayācitāt paraṃ naktaṃ tasmān naktena vartayet
Higit sa pag-aayuno ang mamuhay sa limos; higit sa limos ang tumanggap lamang ng dumarating nang hindi hinihingi; higit sa dumarating nang hindi hinihingi ang disiplina ng “nakta”—pagkain lamang sa gabi. Kaya dapat mamuhay sa nakta, pigilin ang mga pandama, at ihandog maging ang pagkain bilang pagsamba kay Pati, ang Panginoong Śiva.
Suta Goswami (narrating Śaiva vrata and niyama teachings within the Linga Purana discourse)
FAQs
It teaches that purity of sustenance is part of Linga-pūjā: refining one’s intake from ordinary eating toward disciplined, non-possessive living (ayācita, then nakta) supports steadiness in worship and reduces pasha (bondage) born of craving.
By implying that the highest discipline is self-restraint offered to Pati, it points to Śiva as the Lord who liberates the paśu (individual soul) from pasha through inner detachment, not merely external austerity.
The verse highlights āhāra-niyama through the nakta-vrata (eating once at night), progressing via bhaikṣya and ayācita—practices aligned with Pāśupata-style renunciation and sense-control supporting japa and pūjā.