Shloka 116

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

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठेन विना कर्म कृतं तदफलं यतः जपयज्ञ शृणुष्व सर्वयज्ञेभ्यो जपयज्ञो विशिष्यते

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhena vinā karma kṛtaṃ tadaphalaṃ yataḥ japayajña śṛṇuṣva sarvayajñebhyo japayajño viśiṣyate

Translation

若不依正法作拇指之印契而行诸业，则其业无果；故当谛听持咒之祭（japa-yajña）。在一切祭祀中，持咒祭最为殊胜。

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठेन (aṅguṣṭhena): with the thumb / by the thumb-gesture

• विना (vinā): without

• कर्म (karma): ritual act, prescribed rite

• कृतम् (kṛtam): performed

• तत् (tat): that

• अफलम् (aphalam): fruitless, without result

• यतः (yataḥ): because, therefore

• जपयज्ञम् (japayajñam): the sacrifice in the form of mantra-repetition

• शृणुष्व (śṛṇuṣva): listen (imperative)

• सर्वयज्ञेभ्यः (sarvayajñebhyaḥ): than all sacrifices

• जपयज्ञः (japayajñaḥ): japa-yajña

• विशिष्यते (viśiṣyate): excels, is distinguished as superior

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya, conveying the scripture’s praise of japa)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates inner worship—mantra-japa offered to Pati (Shiva)—as the highest yajña, implying that Linga-pūjā is perfected when external acts are joined to disciplined japa.

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

By declaring japa-yajña superior, it points to Shiva as the inner Lord (Pati) who grants फल (spiritual fruit) primarily through inward offering—consciousness and mantra—rather than mere outer performance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa as japa-yajña—an inner sacrifice aligned with Pāśupata discipline—where correct mudrā/gesture and focused repetition make the act effective and spiritually fruitful.