Shloka 184

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

Devanagari script

दौर्बल्यं याति तन्मन्त्रं विनियोगमजानतः यस्य येन वियुञ्जीत कार्येण तु विशेषतः

Transliteration

daurbalyaṃ yāti tanmantraṃ viniyogamajānataḥ yasya yena viyuñjīta kāryeṇa tu viśeṣataḥ

Translation

That mantra becomes weakened when its proper viniyoga (ritual application) is not understood—especially when one separates it from its intended purpose and employs it otherwise. In Śiva’s discipline, a mantra bears fruit only when yoked to its rightful act, intention, and context.

Word by Word

• दौर्बल्यं (daurbalyaṃ): weakness, loss of potency

• याति (yāti): goes to, becomes

• तत्-मन्त्रं (tan-mantraṃ): that mantra

• विनियोगम् (viniyogam): proper application/assignment in ritual (purpose, deity, meter, usage)

• अजानतः (ajānataḥ): of one who does not know, unknowingly

• यस्य (yasya): of which/whose

• येन (yena): by which/with what (means)

• वियुञ्जीत (viyuñjīta): would separate, disconnect, misapply

• कार्येण (kāryeṇa): with the act/purpose, by the intended function

• तु (tu): indeed, but

• विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ): especially, in particular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s teaching on mantra-vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Linga-puja is not merely repetition of sacred sounds; the mantra must be applied with correct viniyoga—right deity-focus (Pati, Shiva), right intention, and right ritual action—otherwise its shakti is diminished.

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

By implication, Shiva-tattva is precise and law-governed: the Pati responds to disciplined alignment of mantra, meaning, and act. When the pashu (soul) acts in confusion, the intended transformative link to Shiva’s grace does not fully manifest.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-viniyoga in Shiva-puja—using the mantra for its designated karmic/ritual function (kārya), not divorcing it from its purpose—an essential principle also echoed in Pashupata-style disciplined practice.