Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

दद्याद्गोमिथुनं गौरं वारुणं लोकमाप्नुयात् श्रावणे च द्विजा मासे कृत्वा वै नक्तभोजनम्

Transliteration

dadyādgomithunaṃ gauraṃ vāruṇaṃ lokamāpnuyāt śrāvaṇe ca dvijā māse kṛtvā vai naktabhojanam

Translation

若有人布施一对毛色皎白的高罗（gaura）母牛，便能得至伐楼那之界。又于室罗伐那月，噫二生者，行“夜食”之戒（naktabhojana），唯夜间受食，则获清净功德，净化被缚之兽魂（paśu），令其归向主宰（Pati）——圣主湿婆。

Word by Word

• दद्याद्: should give/donate

• गो-मिथुनम्: a pair of cows (cow-couple)

• गौरम्: fair/gaura breed, excellent

• वारुणम्: belonging to Varuṇa

• लोकम्: world/realm

• आप्नुयात्: would attain

• श्रावणे: in (the month of) Śrāvaṇa

• च: and

• द्विजा: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa/initiated)

• मासे: in the month

• कृत्वा: having done/undertaken

• वै: indeed

• नक्त-भोजनम्: night-eating observance (taking food only at night)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Dwijas

FAQs

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

It frames charity (dāna) and Śrāvaṇa-vrata as purifying supports for Śiva-bhakti—preparing the worshipper to approach the Liṅga with greater inner śuddhi (purity) and steadiness.

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

While the verse names Varuṇa’s realm as a karmic result, its Shaiva import is that disciplined giving and restraint reduce pāśa (bondage) and orient the paśu toward Pati—Śiva as the ultimate purifier beyond worldly attainments.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Two practices are highlighted: go-dāna (donation of a cow-pair) and naktabhojana-vrata in Śrāvaṇa (eating only at night), a restraint-based observance aligned with tapas and devotional discipline.