Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

तेषां भक्तिमहं दृष्ट्वा सद्यः प्रत्यक्षतामियाम् पञ्चाक्षरम् ऋषिच्छन्दो दैवतं शक्तिबीजवत्

Transliteration

teṣāṃ bhaktimahaṃ dṛṣṭvā sadyaḥ pratyakṣatāmiyām pañcākṣaram ṛṣicchando daivataṃ śaktibījavat

Translation

Als ich ihre Hingabe sah, wurde ich sogleich vor ihnen sichtbar. Das fünfsilbige Mantra hat seinen ṛṣi und sein Metrum sowie seine leitende Gottheit—begabt mit Śakti und der Samenmacht (bīja).

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them

• भक्तिम्: devotion

• अहम्: I (the Lord)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• सद्यः: immediately

• प्रत्यक्षताम्: visible presence/manifestation

• इयाम्: I attained/I became

• पञ्चाक्षरम्: the five-syllabled (mantra, ‘namaḥ śivāya’)

• ऋषि: seer (of the mantra)

• छन्दः: Vedic metre

• दैवतं: presiding Deity

• शक्तिबीजवत्: possessing Śakti and bīja (seed potency)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s mantra-teaching within the chapter)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It links sincere bhakti with Shiva’s immediate manifestation and frames the Panchakshara as a fully empowered mantra (with ṛṣi, chandas, devatā, śakti and bīja) suitable for Linga-puja and direct Shiva-anugraha.

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

Shiva is shown as Pati who responds to the pashu’s devotion by becoming pratyakṣa (directly present), revealing his grace as the decisive force that loosens pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-upāsanā of the Panchakshara—treated with its mantra-lakṣaṇas (ṛṣi, chandas, devatā, śakti, bīja)—a core discipline aligned with Shaiva sādhanā and Pashupata-oriented inner purification.