Shloka 63
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”
ॐ नमश्शंकरायेति ओंमित्यंतेन सन्ततम् । मौनतपस्याप्रारंम्भं तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
oṃ namaśśaṃkarāyeti oṃmityaṃtena santatam | maunatapasyāprāraṃmbhaṃ tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu
“‘Om—obeisance to Śaṅkara’: with ‘Om’ as the concluding seal, repeat it continually. Now listen as I declare to you the commencement of the austerity of silence (mauna-tapas), by which the mind becomes fit for Śiva’s grace.”
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Frames japa of Śaṅkara-nāma with praṇava as a direct upāya for cittāśuddhi, making the paśu fit for Śiva’s anugraha (grace).
Mantra: ॐ नमश्शंकराय (… ) ॐ
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse emphasizes uninterrupted japa of Śiva’s name framed by Om, and introduces mauna-tapas as a discipline that restrains outward speech so the mind becomes inwardly steady and receptive to Śiva’s grace.
By invoking “Namaḥ Śaṅkarāya” with Om, the devotee approaches Saguna Śiva (the gracious Lord who can be worshipped by name and form). Such mantra-japa is commonly performed before the Liṅga, where sound (nāda) and devotion focus the mind on Śiva.
Continuous mantra-japa—“Om Namaḥ Śaṅkarāya”—and the beginning of mauna (a vow of silence) as tapas, supporting meditation, self-restraint, and steadiness in Śiva-bhakti.