Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

वर्षमेकं तु भुञ्जानो नक्तं यः पूजयेच्छिवम् सर्वयज्ञफलं प्राप्य स याति परमां गतिम्

Transliteration

varṣamekaṃ tu bhuñjāno naktaṃ yaḥ pūjayecchivam sarvayajñaphalaṃ prāpya sa yāti paramāṃ gatim

Translation

若有人满一年只受夜食（nakta），并礼拜大自在天湿婆，即得一切祭祀之果；凭此功德，被缚之灵（paśu）趋向至上境界——与超越系缚的主宰帕提（Pati）相应合一。

Word by Word

• वर्षम् (varṣam): for a year

• एकम् (ekam): one

• तु (tu): indeed

• भुञ्जानः (bhuñjānaḥ): eating/sustaining oneself

• नक्तम् (naktam): at night only (night-meal vow)

• यः (yaḥ): who

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): should worship

• शिवम् (śivam): Śiva, the auspicious Lord

• सर्व-यज्ञ-फलम् (sarva-yajña-phalam): the result of all Vedic sacrifices

• प्राप्य (prāpya): having attained

• सः (saḥ): he

• याति (yāti): goes/attains

• परमाम् (paramām): supreme

• गतिम् (gatim): state, goal (liberation).

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 declares that disciplined Linga/Śiva-pūjā combined with the nakta-vrata for a year grants the cumulative merit of all yajñas, showing Śiva-pūjā as a direct, accessible path to the highest spiritual goal.

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

Śiva is presented as Pati—the supreme bestower of the “paramā gati,” whose grace can surpass ritual multiplicity and lead the paśu (individual soul) beyond pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights nakta-vrata (eating only at night) paired with regular Śiva-pūjā—an austerity that supports inner restraint and aligns with Pāśupata-style purification through vrata and devotion.