Shloka 12

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

Uma–Maheshvara Vrata, Shula-dana, and Month-wise Ekabhakta Vrata

Devanagari script

राजतं कमलं चैव जांबूनदसुकर्णिकम् दत्त्वा भवाय विप्रेभ्यः प्रदद्याद् दक्षिणाम् अपि

Transliteration

rājataṃ kamalaṃ caiva jāṃbūnadasukarṇikam dattvā bhavāya viprebhyaḥ pradadyād dakṣiṇām api

Translation

Matapos ihandog kay Bhava (Śiva) ang isang pilak na lotus na may gitnang bahagi na hinubog mula sa ginto ng Jāmbūnada, nararapat ding magbigay ng angkop na dakṣiṇā (handog na parangal) sa mga brāhmaṇa. Ang ganitong pagbibigay, na ginagawa sa bhakti sa Pati na nagpapalaya sa paśu mula sa mga tali ng pāśa, ay nagiging daan ng paglilinis at mapalad na gantimpala.

Word by Word

• राजतम् (rājatam): silver

• कमलम् (kamalam): lotus

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• जांबूनद (jāmbūnada): Jāmbūnada-gold (fine gold)

• सु-कर्णिकम् (su-karṇikam): with a beautiful pericarp/central whorl

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given/offered

• भवाय (bhavāya): to Bhava (Śiva)

• विप्रेभ्यः (viprebhyaḥ): to brāhmaṇas

• प्रदद्याद् (pradadyād): one should give

• दक्षिणाम् (dakṣiṇām): priestly fee/honorarium

• अपि (api): also

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It links Shiva-puja to dana: a refined symbolic offering (silver lotus with golden center) is completed by dakshina to brāhmaṇas, making the rite socially and ritually whole and increasing its punya.

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

By naming him Bhava, it points to Shiva as the auspicious Lord (Pati) who governs becoming and releases the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa) through devotion expressed as worship and giving.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A puja-dāna practice is highlighted: offering a crafted lotus to Shiva and giving dakṣiṇā to officiating brāhmaṇas—an external support to inner purification aligned with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.