Shloka 172

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

तथा पापं विलीयेत आचार्यस्य समीपतः यथा प्रज्वलितो वह्निर् विष्ठां काष्ठं च निर्दहेत्

Transliteration

tathā pāpaṃ vilīyeta ācāryasya samīpataḥ yathā prajvalito vahnir viṣṭhāṃ kāṣṭhaṃ ca nirdahet

Translation

وكذلك يذوب الإثم في مجرد القرب من الآتشاريّا؛ كما أنّ النار المتّقدة تحرق تمامًا القذرَ والحطبَ معًا. وفي طريق الشيفا، تُشعل حضرة الغورو نارَ المعرفة (jñāna-agni) فتُحرق الـpāśa، رباط العبودية الملتصق بالـpaśu، أي النفس، وتوجّهها نحو الـPati، الربّ شيفا.

Word by Word

• तथा (tathā): in that manner/so

• पापं (pāpaṁ): sin, demerit, impurity

• विलीयेत (vilīyeta): would dissolve, would melt away

• आचार्यस्य (ācāryasya): of the teacher/preceptor

• समीपतः (samīpataḥ): from proximity/nearby

• यथा (yathā): just as

• प्रज्वलितः (prajvalitaḥ): blazing, fully kindled

• वह्निः (vahniḥ): fire

• विष्ठाम् (viṣṭhām): filth/excrement (symbol of impurity)

• काष्ठम् (kāṣṭham): wood/fuel

• च (ca): and

• निर्दहेत् (nirdahet): would burn up completely

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya, within a Guru-sevā context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-bhakti as inseparable from Guru-sannidhya: staying near the Ācārya purifies the sādhaka, making the mind fit for Śiva-linga pūjā and for receiving mantra and vidhi without impurity.

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

By the fire metaphor it points to Śiva as the inner jñāna-agni—Pati—who burns the pasha of the paśu; the Ācārya functions as Śiva’s channel, through whom that purifying power becomes accessible to the disciple.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Guru-sevā and ācārya-sannidhāna (living/remaining close to the Guru) are highlighted as a core Shaiva discipline, supporting Pashupata-style purification that precedes deeper japa, dhyāna, and Linga pūjā.