Shloka 32

Devanagari script

एकाहारोऽभवन्मासं मासं नक्ताशनोऽभवत् । अयाचिताशनो मासम्मासन्त्यक्ताशनः पुनः

Transliteration

ekāhāro'bhavanmāsaṃ māsaṃ naktāśano'bhavat | ayācitāśano māsammāsantyaktāśanaḥ punaḥ

Translation

一月之中，他每日仅食一餐；又一月之中，他唯于夜间进食。再一月，他只以不求而得之食维生；而后又一月，他再次彻底断食。

Word by Word

• एकाहारः: one-meal (diet)
• एकाहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (एकः आहारः = one meal)

• अभवत्: was/became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि-अर्थे (duration)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि-अर्थे

• नक्ताशनः: one who eats at night
• नक्ताशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्त + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नक्ते अशनम् यस्य/नक्ते अशनः = night-eater)

• अभवत्: was/became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अयाचिताशनः: one who eats unasked-for food
• अयाचिताशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + याचित + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (अयाचितम् अशनम् = food not begged for)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि-अर्थे

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि-अर्थे

• त्यक्ताशनः: one who has given up eating (fasting)
• त्यक्ताशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्यक्त + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण-समासः (त्यक्तम् अशनम् यस्य = having abandoned eating)

• पुनः: again/then
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति/क्रमसूचक (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The vrata’s niyamas are specified through progressive austerities (dietary restraints culminating in fasting). Such tapas is presented as the means by which the bound soul weakens pāśa (bondage) and becomes fit for Śiva’s anugraha at the Vīreśvara kṣetra.

Significance: Demonstrates graded ascetic discipline as part of kṣetra-vrata: restraint of appetite and dependence reduces attachment and prepares for siddhi/boon.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It presents a graded discipline of tapas—reducing dependence on sense-pleasures and ego-driven acquisition—so the seeker becomes inwardly purified and fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha), which is central to liberation in Shaiva thought.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Such austerities traditionally support Linga-worship by cultivating purity (śauca), restraint, and one-pointed devotion; the body is disciplined so the mind can remain steady in Saguna Shiva’s presence during pūjā, japa, and dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured vrata: eating once daily, then night-only, then accepting food without asking, and finally fasting—ideally paired with Shiva-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara), night vigil on Mahashivratri, and steady meditation on Shiva.