व्यपोहनस्तवनिरूपण-प्रसङ्गे नक्तभोजन-शिवव्रतविधिः (वार्षिक-प्रतिमास-क्रमः)
कार्तिके च तथा मासे कृत्वा वै नक्तभोजनम् क्षीरौदनेन साज्येन सम्पूज्य च भवं प्रभुम्
kārtike ca tathā māse kṛtvā vai naktabhojanam kṣīraudanena sājyena sampūjya ca bhavaṃ prabhum
Gayundin sa buwan ng Kārttika, matapos tuparin ang panatang pagkain lamang sa gabi, sambahin ang Panginoong Bhava—ang kataas-taasang Pati—sa handog na kaning-gatas (kṣīraudana) na may kasamang ghee.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It prescribes a specific Kārttika observance—naktabhojana—paired with a pure naivedya (milk-rice with ghee) for complete worship of Bhava, emphasizing disciplined vrata as a means to please the Pati through Linga-centered devotion.
Shiva is addressed as Bhava and Prabhu, signaling Him as Pati—the sovereign Lord who grants grace; the devotee (pashu) approaches Him through restraint and offering, loosening pasha (bondage) by devotion and purity.
A vrata-based discipline (naktabhojana) integrated with puja-vidhi: worship in Kārttika with sattvic food offerings (kṣīra-odana and ghee), aligning bodily restraint with devotional practice characteristic of Shaiva observances.