Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

वाच्यवाचकभावेन स्थितः साक्षात्स्वभावतः वाच्यः शिवः प्रमेयत्वान् मन्त्रस्तद्वाचकः स्मृतः

Transliteration

vācyavācakabhāvena sthitaḥ sākṣātsvabhāvataḥ vācyaḥ śivaḥ prameyatvān mantrastadvācakaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

वाच्यवाचकभावेन स्थितः साक्षात्स्वभावतः । वाच्यः शिवः प्रमेयत्वान् मन्त्रस्तद्वाचकः स्मृतः ॥

Word by Word

• vācya-vācaka-bhāvena: in the mode of the denoted–denoter relation

• sthitaḥ: abides/stands

• sākṣāt: directly, manifestly

• svabhāvataḥ: by His own nature

• vācyaḥ: the denoted meaning

• śivaḥ: Lord Shiva (Pati)

• prameyatvāt: because of being prameya, an object of valid knowledge/realization

• mantraḥ: the mantra

• tad-vācakaḥ: the one that denotes Him/expresses Him

• smṛtaḥ: is taught/remembered (in tradition).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva doctrine to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga/Mantra worship as a precise mantra–meaning discipline: the mantra is the vācaka (indicator) that leads the devotee’s awareness to Shiva, the vācya (indicated reality), making worship an act of direct Shiva-realization rather than mere symbolism.

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

Shiva is ‘sākṣāt svabhāvataḥ’—directly present by His own nature—and is the prameya, the realizable object of true knowledge; He is Pati, knowable through right means (mantra) while remaining the intrinsic ground of that knowing.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa with correct artha-bhāvanā (contemplation of meaning): the practitioner holds the mantra as vācaka and meditatively fixes the mind on Shiva as vācya—aligning with Pashupata-oriented inner worship (dhyāna + japa).