Shloka 41
Kāla-vañcana (Overcoming/Outwitting Time) and the Pañcabhūta Basis of the Body
नव शब्दान्परित्यज्य तुंकारं तु समभ्यसेत् । ध्यायन्नेवं सदा योगी पुण्यैः पापैर्न लिप्यते
nava śabdānparityajya tuṃkāraṃ tu samabhyaset | dhyāyannevaṃ sadā yogī puṇyaiḥ pāpairna lipyate
Casting aside the other nine sounds, one should practice the single sound “tuṃ” alone. Meditating thus continually, the yogin is not tainted either by merit or by sin.
Suta Goswami (conveying the Umāsaṃhitā’s yogic instruction as part of Shiva’s liberating teaching)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Mantra: tuṃ
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches nāda-based mantra contemplation that leads the yogin beyond karmic dualities; by steady inner absorption, one becomes unattached to both punya (merit) and papa (sin), moving toward Shiva-realization (Pati) beyond bondage (pāśa).
While Linga worship supports Saguna devotion through form and ritual, this verse emphasizes the inner, subtler practice of sound-contemplation that matures devotion into meditative absorption—leading from external worship toward the Nirguna depth of Shiva as pure consciousness.
A focused japa/mental repetition and meditation on the single syllabic sound “tuṃ,” withdrawing attention from other sounds and distractions, maintaining continuous dhyāna until the mind rests in stillness and non-attachment.