क्षुपस्य विष्णुदर्शनं, वैष्णवस्तोत्रं, दधीचविवादः, स्थानेश्वरतीर्थमाहात्म्यं
मायया ह्यनया किं वा मन्त्रशक्त्याथ वा प्रभो वस्तुशक्त्याथ वा विष्णो ध्यानशक्त्याथ वा पुनः
māyayā hyanayā kiṃ vā mantraśaktyātha vā prabho vastuśaktyātha vā viṣṇo dhyānaśaktyātha vā punaḥ
噢毗湿奴,主啊:此事唯由此摩耶而成吗?抑或由真言之力?抑或由事物自身实性所具之力?又或由禅观(dhyāna)之力而成?
Suta Goswami (narrating an internal inquiry addressed to Vishnu within the chapter’s dialogue)
It frames the key Shaiva question of agency: whether sacred effects arise from māyā, mantra, the inherent śakti of the sacred object (such as the Liṅga), or dhyāna—preparing the listener to understand that all efficacies ultimately depend on the Supreme Pati’s sanction.
By questioning multiple ‘powers’ (māyā, mantra, vastu, dhyāna), the verse implies a hierarchy of śaktis; in Shaiva Siddhanta these operate as instruments, while Shiva-tattva (Pati) remains the transcendent source and controller of all śakti, beyond the paśu’s limited grasp.
Mantra-japa and dhyāna are explicitly highlighted: mantra-śakti (ritual recitation) and dhyāna-śakti (yogic contemplation), both central to Pāśupata-oriented discipline when directed toward Shiva/Liṅga as the liberating focus.