Shloka 28

Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा

Devanagari script

बहुना किं प्रलापेन भवभक्ता द्विजोत्तमाः संपूज्याः सर्वयत्नेन शिववन्नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

bahunā kiṃ pralāpena bhavabhaktā dvijottamāḥ saṃpūjyāḥ sarvayatnena śivavannātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

زیادہ باتوں سے کیا حاصل؟ اے بہترینِ دو بار جنم لینے والو، بھَو (شیو) کے بھکتوں کی ہر کوشش سے تعظیم و پوجا کرو—بالکل شیو کی مانند؛ اس میں کوئی شک نہیں۔

Word by Word

• बहुना: with much

• किं: what (use)

• प्रलापेन: with idle talk/excess speech

• भवभक्ता: devotees of Bhava (Śiva)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)

• संपूज्याः: to be fully worshipped/honoured

• सर्वयत्नेन: with all effort/by every means

• शिववत्: like Śiva (as Śiva)

• नात्र: not here/indeed

• संशयः: doubt

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-dharma to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Linga-pūjā is incomplete without bhakta-sevā: Shiva’s devotees are to be honoured as Shiva, making devotion and service a core limb of worship.

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

By equating honour to Shiva’s devotees with honour to Shiva, it implies Shiva’s presence through grace (anugraha) in those aligned with Pati, revealing Shiva-tattva as accessible via devotion and communion with His bhaktas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhakta-satkara (reverent reception and service) is highlighted as a practical limb of Pashupata-oriented discipline—reducing egoic bondage (pāśa) in the pashu through humility before Shiva’s devotees.