Shloka 30

Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi

Condensed Ritual Sequence

Devanagari script

शिवाय दीपं यो दद्याद् विधिना वापि भक्तितः सूर्यायुतसमैः श्लक्ष्णैर् यानैः शिवपुरं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

śivāya dīpaṃ yo dadyād vidhinā vāpi bhaktitaḥ sūryāyutasamaiḥ ślakṣṇair yānaiḥ śivapuraṃ vrajet

Translation

凡向湿婆供灯者——或依正仪，或纯以虔爱（bhakti）——必往湿婆之城（Śivapura），乘坐细妙庄严之车，光辉灿然如一万日轮。

Word by Word

• शिवाय: to Śiva

• दीपम्: a lamp/light

• यः: whoever

• दद्याद्: should give/offers

• विधिना: according to prescribed procedure

• वा अपि: or even

• भक्तितः: out of devotion

• सूर्यायुत-समैः: equal to ten-thousand suns (in brilliance)

• श्लक्ष्णैः: smooth, splendid, refined

• यानैः: vehicles/chariots

• शिवपुरम्: Śiva’s abode/city

• व्रजेत्: would go/attains

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating 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 offering light (dīpa-dāna) to Śiva in Linga-pūjā is a powerful act of merit: even if formal ritual is incomplete, sincere bhakti is accepted and leads the devotee toward Śiva’s abode.

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

Śiva is implied as the supreme Pati who receives devotion and grants transcendental passage beyond bondage; the imagery of overwhelming radiance points to Śiva-tattva as consciousness and inner illumination that outshines worldly light.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The practice is dīpa-dāna (offering a lamp) as a limb of Śiva-pūjā; yogically, it supports the Shaiva theme of awakening inner light—turning the pashu (bound soul) toward Pati through bhakti rather than mere external formality.