Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

नीलस्कन्धं वृषं गां च दत्त्वा भक्त्या यथाविधि ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान्

Transliteration

nīlaskandhaṃ vṛṣaṃ gāṃ ca dattvā bhaktyā yathāvidhi brāhmaṇān bhojayitvā ca vedavedāṅgapāragān

Translation

Sa debosyon at ayon sa wastong ritwal, matapos maghandog ng isang torong may bughaw na leeg at isang baka, at matapos pakainin ang mga brāhmaṇa na bihasa sa Veda at Vedāṅga—ito’y gawaing dharma na kinalulugdan ni Pati (Śiva) at nagpapaluwag sa pāśa na nagbubuklod sa paśu (kaluluwang indibidwal).

Word by Word

• nīlaskandham: blue-necked/blue-shouldered (auspicious)

• vṛṣam: bull

• gām: cow

• ca: and

• dattvā: having given

• bhaktyā: with devotion

• yathāvidhi: according to prescribed rule

• brāhmaṇān: Brahmanas

• bhojayitvā: having fed

• ca: and

• veda-vedāṅga-pāragān: those who have mastered the Vedas and the Vedangas

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmanas
• Vedas
• Vedangas

FAQs

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

It highlights that Shiva-oriented merit is strengthened not only by direct puja but also by dharmic dana and feeding qualified Brahmanas—supporting the ritual ecosystem that sustains Linga-worship.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati—the Lord who is pleased by devotion expressed through right action (vidhi) and compassion (dana), and who grants release from pāśa (bondage) to the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A dana-vidhi: gifting a bull and cow and performing brāhmaṇa-bhojana for Veda- and Vedanga-knowers—an orthodox Shaiva-aligned purification and merit practice that supports inner discipline alongside worship.