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

వాచ్య-వాచక భావములో స్వభావతః సాక్షాత్ స్థితుడైన—ప్రమేయుడగుటచేత శివుడు వాచ్యుడు; మంత్రం ఆయనను సూచించు వాచకమని స్మరించబడును.

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).