Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

व्यपोहनस्तवनिरूपण-प्रसङ्गे नक्तभोजन-शिवव्रतविधिः (वार्षिक-प्रतिमास-क्रमः)

Devanagari script

यावकं चौदनं दत्त्वा सक्षीरं सघृतं द्विजाः भोजयेद् ब्राह्मणाञ्शिष्टाञ् जपेच्छान्तिं विशेषतः

Transliteration

yāvakaṃ caudanaṃ dattvā sakṣīraṃ saghṛtaṃ dvijāḥ bhojayed brāhmaṇāñśiṣṭāñ japecchāntiṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Matapos ihandog ang butil na yāvaka at nilutong kanin, kasama ang gatas at ghee, ang dvija ay dapat magpakain sa mga disiplinado at marurunong na Brāhmaṇa; pagkaraan, lalo niyang isagawa ang śānti-japa para sa pagpapayapa, upang ang pashu (kaluluwang nakagapos) ay lumuwag sa pāśa (pagkagapos) sa biyaya ni Pati, si Śiva.

Word by Word

• यावकम् (yāvakam): barley/coarse grain offering

• चौदनम् (caudanam): cooked rice/food (odana)

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given/offered

• स-क्षीरम् (sa-kṣīram): with milk

• स-घृतम् (sa-ghṛtam): with ghee

• द्विजाः (dvijāḥ): the twice-born (ritual-eligible practitioners)

• भोजयेत् (bhojayet): should feed

• ब्राह्मणान् (brāhmaṇān): Brāhmaṇas

• शिष्टान् (śiṣṭān): disciplined, cultured, learned/virtuous

• जपेत् (japet): should recite (mantra)

• शान्तिम् (śāntim): pacification/appeasement rite

• विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ): especially, with particular emphasis

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It links Linga-centered Shiva-dharma with sattvic dana: offering simple grains with milk and ghee, feeding worthy Brāhmaṇas, and completing the act with śānti-japa—purifying the worshipper and stabilizing the rite for Shiva’s grace.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati, the Lord whose anugraha (grace) is approached through right action (dana), right recipients (śiṣṭa-brāhmaṇas), and mantra-japa that pacifies inner and outer obstacles binding the Pashu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Brahmana-bhojana (feeding qualified Brāhmaṇas) as dana, followed by śānti-japa (pacificatory mantra recitation), a practical Shiva-puja adjunct that removes impediments and supports steadiness of mind.