Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

यो विद्वान्वै जपेत्सम्यग् अधीत्यैव विधानतः एतावद्धि शिवज्ञानम् एतावत्परमं पदम्

Transliteration

yo vidvānvai japetsamyag adhītyaiva vidhānataḥ etāvaddhi śivajñānam etāvatparamaṃ padam

Translation

A learned seeker who, having first studied the teaching, performs japa correctly according to the prescribed rule—this alone is Śiva-knowledge; this alone is the supreme state (the highest abode of liberation).

Word by Word

• यः (yaḥ): who

• विद्वान् (vidvān): a learned/knowing person

• वै (vai): indeed

• जपेत् (japet): should repeat (mantra), should perform japa

• सम्यक् (samyak): correctly, rightly

• अधीत्य (adhītya): having studied/recited/learned

• एव (eva): only, indeed

• विधानतः (vidhānataḥ): according to rule/prescription

• एतावत् (etāvat): just this much/this alone

• हि (hi): indeed, for

• शिवज्ञानम् (śiva-jñānam): knowledge/realization of Shiva (Pati-tattva)

• एतावत् (etāvat): this alone

• परम् (paramam): supreme

• पदम् (padam): state/abode/goal (liberation).

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-oriented devotion as disciplined sādhana: study the prescribed teaching and then perform correct mantra-japa; this practice itself is presented as Shiva-realization leading to the highest goal.

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

Shiva is implied as the Parama-pada (supreme goal) and the content of true knowledge (śiva-jñāna); realizing Pati is not merely conceptual but attained through properly guided practice.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa performed samyak (correctly) and vidhānataḥ (according to injunction), preceded by adhyayana (study/learning)—a Pāśupata-leaning discipline where the pashu moves toward freedom from pāśa through regulated practice.