Shloka 171

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

Devanagari script

तथैव गुरुसंपर्कात् पापं त्यजति मानवः यथा वह्निसमीपस्थो घृतकुंभो विलीयते

Transliteration

tathaiva gurusaṃparkāt pāpaṃ tyajati mānavaḥ yathā vahnisamīpastho ghṛtakuṃbho vilīyate

Translation

Ebenso wirft der Mensch durch die Nähe zum Guru die Sünde ab — wie ein Topf voller Ghee, der nahe ans Feuer gestellt, dahinschmilzt.

Word by Word

• तथा एव (tathā eva): just so, in the same manner

• गुरु-संपर्कात् (guru-saṃparkāt): from association/contact with the Guru

• पापम् (pāpam): sin, demerit, impurity

• त्यजति (tyajati): abandons, gives up, casts off

• मानवः (mānavaḥ): a human being (the pashu bound by pasha)

• यथा (yathā): just as

• वह्नि-समीप-स्थः (vahni-samīpa-sthaḥ): situated near fire

• घृत-कुंभः (ghṛta-kumbhaḥ): a ghee-pot (pot containing clarified butter)

• विलीयते (vilīyate): melts, dissolves away

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that purity for Linga-puja is not merely external; through guru-saṅga and upadeśa, pāpa (impurity) dissolves, making the pashu fit for Shiva-bhakti and Linga-ārādhana.

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

Shiva as Pati removes pasha primarily through anugraha (grace), often mediated by the Guru; the ‘fire’ imagery points to a transforming, purifying power that dissolves karmic accretions rather than merely suppressing them.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Guru-sevā and guru-saṅga as a core limb of Pashupata discipline: staying near the Guru, receiving mantra and conduct (ācāra), whereby pāpa-kṣaya occurs naturally—like ghee melting near fire.