Shloka 149

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

Devanagari script

सूर्याग्निजलदेवानां गुरूणां विमुखः शुभे न कुर्यादिह कार्याणि जपकर्म शुभानि वा

Transliteration

sūryāgnijaladevānāṃ gurūṇāṃ vimukhaḥ śubhe na kuryādiha kāryāṇi japakarma śubhāni vā

Translation

O auspicious one, a person who turns away from the Sun, Fire, Water, the Devas, and from one’s Gurus should not undertake any rites here—nor even auspicious disciplines such as japa and other sacred observances. For without reverence to these supports of dharma, the sādhana does not mature into Śiva’s grace.

Word by Word

• सूर्य (sūrya): the Sun

• अग्नि (agni): sacred Fire

• जल (jala): Water

• देवानाम् (devānām): of the Devas

• गुरूणाम् (gurūṇām): of the Gurus/teachers

• विमुखः (vimukhaḥ): turned away from, disrespectful, facing away

• शुभे (śubhe): O auspicious one (vocative)

• न (na): not

• कुर्यात् (kuryāt): should do/undertake

• इह (iha): here (in this world/in this context)

• कार्याणि (kāryāṇi): actions, ritual duties, works

• जपकर्म (japa-karma): the act of mantra-repetition (japa) and related disciplined practice

• शुभानि (śubhāni): auspicious, meritorious

• वा (vā): or

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dharma and puja-related injunctions within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Agni
• Jala (Apas)
• Devas
• Guru

FAQs

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

It sets eligibility: Shiva-puja and mantra-japa must rest on reverence to dharma-supports—Devas, the sacred elements (Sun/Fire/Water), and especially the Guru—otherwise the practice becomes fruitless and does not lead toward Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

Implicitly, Shiva-tattva is approached through right orientation (bhāva) and proper adhikāra: when the pashu (individual soul) remains bound by pasha (disrespect, ego, and adharmic attitude), even “auspicious” acts cannot open the way to the Pati (Lord) as grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Japa-karma is highlighted, along with the broader rule that all sacred actions require guru-bhakti and reverence to Vedic sanctities (Surya, Agni, Apas, Devas) as a prerequisite for effective Shaiva sādhana.