Shloka 172

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

Devanagari script

तथा पापं विलीयेत आचार्यस्य समीपतः यथा प्रज्वलितो वह्निर् विष्ठां काष्ठं च निर्दहेत्

Transliteration

tathā pāpaṃ vilīyeta ācāryasya samīpataḥ yathā prajvalito vahnir viṣṭhāṃ kāṣṭhaṃ ca nirdahet

Translation

اسی طرح آچاریہ کے قرب میں گناہ گھل جاتا ہے؛ جیسے بھڑکتی آگ گندگی اور لکڑی—دونوں کو جلا دیتی ہے۔ شَیوَ مارگ میں گُرو کی حضوری جِنان-اگنی بھڑکا کر پاش (بندھن) کو داغ دیتی ہے اور پشو (جیوا) کو پتی، بھگوان شِو کی طرف موڑ دیتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• तथा (tathā): in that manner/so

• पापं (pāpaṁ): sin, demerit, impurity

• विलीयेत (vilīyeta): would dissolve, would melt away

• आचार्यस्य (ācāryasya): of the teacher/preceptor

• समीपतः (samīpataḥ): from proximity/nearby

• यथा (yathā): just as

• प्रज्वलितः (prajvalitaḥ): blazing, fully kindled

• वह्निः (vahniḥ): fire

• विष्ठाम् (viṣṭhām): filth/excrement (symbol of impurity)

• काष्ठम् (kāṣṭham): wood/fuel

• च (ca): and

• निर्दहेत् (nirdahet): would burn up completely

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya, within a Guru-sevā context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-bhakti as inseparable from Guru-sannidhya: staying near the Ācārya purifies the sādhaka, making the mind fit for Śiva-linga pūjā and for receiving mantra and vidhi without impurity.

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

By the fire metaphor it points to Śiva as the inner jñāna-agni—Pati—who burns the pasha of the paśu; the Ācārya functions as Śiva’s channel, through whom that purifying power becomes accessible to the disciple.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Guru-sevā and ācārya-sannidhāna (living/remaining close to the Guru) are highlighted as a core Shaiva discipline, supporting Pashupata-style purification that precedes deeper japa, dhyāna, and Linga pūjā.