Shloka 70

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

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

Devanagari script

सा भवान्यास्तनुं गत्वा भवेन सह मोदते एकभक्तव्रतं पुण्यं प्रतिमासमनुक्रमात्

Transliteration

sā bhavānyāstanuṃ gatvā bhavena saha modate ekabhaktavrataṃ puṇyaṃ pratimāsamanukramāt

Translation

她化现为婆伐尼（Bhavānī）之身，与婆伐（Bhava，湿婆）同享欢喜。于是，依次月复一月，清净的“一食行”（Ekabhakta）成就功德——增长对主宰Pati（湿婆）的信爱，并松解被缚之魂paśu的绳索pāśa。

Word by Word

• सा (sā): she

• भवान्याः (bhavānyāḥ): of Bhavānī (Pārvatī)

• तनुं (tanuṃ): body, form

• गत्वा (gatvā): having gone/assumed

• भवेन (bhavena): with Bhava (Śiva)

• सह (saha): together with

• मोदते (modate): delights, rejoices

• एकभक्तव्रतं (ekabhakta-vrataṃ): the Ekabhakta vow (single daily meal/one-pointed observance)

• पुण्यं (puṇyaṃ): meritorious, holy

• प्रतिमासम् (pratimāsam): every month

• अनुक्रमात् (anukramāt): in order, successively, according to sequence.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the vrata-mahātmya within the Linga Purana discourse to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It links a disciplined monthly Ekabhakta-vrata with pleasing Śiva together with Śakti (Bhavānī), implying that vrata-backed devotion is a key support for fruitful Liṅga-upāsanā.

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

Śiva is presented as Bhava, inseparable from Bhavānī—Shiva-tattva is experienced through the Shiva–Shakti unity that grants joy and merit to the devotee’s ordered practice.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ekabhakta-vrata—an ascetic discipline of regulated intake and one-pointed devotion—performed month by month, aligning with Shaiva niyamas that purify the pashu and weaken pāśa.