Shloka 157

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

Devanagari script

अपवित्रकरो ऽशुद्धः प्रलपन्न जपेत् क्वचित् क्रोधो मदः क्षुधा तन्द्रा निष्ठीवनविजृम्भणे

Transliteration

apavitrakaro 'śuddhaḥ pralapanna japet kvacit krodho madaḥ kṣudhā tandrā niṣṭhīvanavijṛmbhaṇe

Translation

చేతులు అపవిత్రంగా ఉన్నవాడు, తానే అశుద్ధుడైనవాడు, లేదా వ్యర్థంగా పలుకుతున్నవాడు—ఎప్పుడూ జపం చేయకూడదు. అలాగే కోపం, మత్తు, ఆకలి, నిద్రమత్తు, ఉమ్మివేయడం, ఆవలించడం ఉన్నప్పుడు కూడా జపం చేయరాదు.

Word by Word

• अपवित्रकरः: having impure hands

• अशुद्धः: unclean/impure

• प्रलपन्(न)ः: talking incoherently/chattering

• जपेत्: should perform japa

• क्वचित्: at any time/ever

• क्रोधः: anger

• मदः: intoxication/pride (deluding exhilaration)

• क्षुधा: hunger

• तन्द्रा: drowsiness/lethargy

• निष्ठीवन: spitting

• विजृम्भणे: yawning

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic injunctions on Shiva-mantra discipline to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sets the śauca (purity) and niyama (discipline) required for Shiva-mantra practice during Liṅga-pūjā, teaching that external and internal impurity obstructs the devotee’s approach to Pati (Shiva).

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

By insisting on purity and steadiness for japa, it implies Shiva-tattva as supremely pure (śuddha) and approached through a purified instrument—body, speech, and mind—so the pashu (soul) can loosen pasha (bondage) and align with Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa as a Pāśupata-aligned discipline: restraining agitation (anger), tamas (drowsiness), and bodily distractions (spitting/yawning), and maintaining cleanliness before chanting Shiva’s mantras.