Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

आज्ञाहीनं क्रियाहीनं श्रद्धाहीनम् अमानसम् आज्ञप्तं दक्षिणाहीनं सदा जप्तं च निष्फलम्

Transliteration

ājñāhīnaṃ kriyāhīnaṃ śraddhāhīnam amānasam ājñaptaṃ dakṣiṇāhīnaṃ sadā japtaṃ ca niṣphalam

Translation

Le japa accompli sans autorisation légitime (dīkṣā/ādeśa), sans la discipline rituelle prescrite, sans foi et sans esprit recueilli—de même que le japa fait sans la dakṣiṇā enjointe—demeure sans fruit, même s’il est répété sans cesse.

Word by Word

• ājñā-hīnam: devoid of (guru’s) command/authorization

• kriyā-hīnam: lacking proper rite and discipline

• śraddhā-hīnam: without faith

• a-mānasam: without mental presence/collected mind

• ājñaptam: what is enjoined/ordained

• dakṣiṇā-hīnam: without dakṣiṇā (offering to the officiant/guru)

• sadā: always/constantly

• japtam: recited (as japa)

• ca: and

• niṣphalam: without fruit/result

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva ritual principles within the Purva-Bhaga discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the minimum Shaiva requirements for fruitful Linga-mantra japa—guru-authorization, correct kriyā, śraddhā, mental steadiness, and proper dakṣiṇā—showing that mere repetition without these supports does not yield siddhi.

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

Shiva as Pati is approached through ordered means (niyama) that purify the pashu (bound soul) from pasha (bondage); the verse implies that inner bhāva (faith and mind) and outer dharma (authorized rite and offering) must align for Shiva’s grace to manifest.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa aligned with dīkṣā/ājñā, kriyā (pujā-vidhi), śraddhā, and ekāgratā (one-pointed mind), with dakṣiṇā as an essential dharmic completion of the rite.