Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

मत्प्रियः सततं श्रीमान् मद्भूतैः परिरक्षितः तस्याभ्याशे तपस्तीव्रं लोकसृष्टिसमुत्सुकाः

Transliteration

matpriyaḥ satataṃ śrīmān madbhūtaiḥ parirakṣitaḥ tasyābhyāśe tapastīvraṃ lokasṛṣṭisamutsukāḥ

Translation

“అతడు నిత్యం నాకు ప్రియుడు, నిత్యం శ్రీమంతుడు, మంగళప్రదుడు; నా గణములచే పరిరక్షింపబడుతున్నాడు. అతని సమీపంలో, లోకసృష్టి పట్ల ఉత్సుకతతో వారు ఘోర తపస్సు ఆచరిస్తారు।”

Word by Word

• मत्प्रियः: dear to Me (Śiva)

• सततम्: always

• श्रीमान्: endowed with śrī—splendour/auspiciousness

• मद्भूतैः: by My beings—Śiva’s bhūtas/gaṇas

• परिरक्षितः: fully protected/guarded

• तस्य: of him/near him

• अभ्याशे: in proximity, close by

• तपः: austerity, ascetic heat

• तीव्रम्: intense, fierce

• लोक: worlds/realms

• सृष्टि: creation, manifestation

• समुत्सुकाः: keenly eager, intent upon

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal Shaiva account of srishti and divine protection)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva’s Bhutas (Ganas)

FAQs

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

It frames creation (sṛṣṭi) as arising in the orbit of Śiva’s grace—those near the Lord’s beloved, guarded by His gaṇas, generate spiritual heat (tapas) that becomes a support for manifestation; Linga worship likewise centers the devotee near Pati, where purity and power arise.

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

Śiva-tattva appears as Pati—the sovereign Lord who cherishes (matpriyaḥ), bestows auspicious radiance (śrī), and protects through His own bhūtas/gaṇas, making cosmic activity possible without compromising transcendence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tīvra-tapas—intense austerity aligned to Śiva’s will—reflects a Pāśupata orientation: disciplined practice near the Lord’s sphere breaks pāśa (bondage) and can also serve as a force for ordered manifestation (sṛṣṭi).