Shloka 122

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

Devanagari script

शब्दार्थं चिन्तयेद्भूयः स तूक्तो मानसो जपः त्रयाणां जपयज्ञानां श्रेयान् स्यादुत्तरोत्तरः

Transliteration

śabdārthaṃ cintayedbhūyaḥ sa tūkto mānaso japaḥ trayāṇāṃ japayajñānāṃ śreyān syāduttarottaraḥ

Translation

When one repeatedly contemplates the sound (of the mantra) together with its meaning, that is called mental japa. Among the three forms of japa-sacrifice, each succeeding one is superior to the preceding.

Word by Word

• शब्दार्थम्: the sound and the meaning (of the mantra)

• चिन्तयेत्: one should contemplate/reflect upon

• भूयः: again and again, repeatedly

• सः: that

• तु: indeed

• उक्तः: is said/called

• मानसः: mental, inward

• जपः: repetition (of mantra), japa

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three

• जपयज्ञानाम्: of the japa-sacrifices (forms of japa as yajña)

• श्रेयान्: better, more excellent

• स्यात्: becomes/is

• उत्तरोत्तरः: progressively higher, each following one

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching on japa to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shifts worship from merely external repetition to inner offering: contemplating mantra-sound and its meaning becomes a subtler yajña to Shiva, aligning Linga-puja with inward realization of Pati (Shiva).

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

By valuing mental japa grounded in meaning, the verse implies Shiva-tattva is approached through consciousness itself—where mantra is internalized and the mind becomes the altar, pointing to Shiva as the inner Lord (Pati) beyond outward forms.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mānasa-japa (mental repetition with śabda-artha contemplation) is highlighted as a higher japa-yajña, a key yogic refinement consistent with Pashupata-style inner discipline.