Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

यावज्जीवं जपेन्नित्यम् अष्टोत्तरसहस्रकम् अनश्नंस्तत्परो भूत्वा स याति परमां गतिम्

Transliteration

yāvajjīvaṃ japennityam aṣṭottarasahasrakam anaśnaṃstatparo bhūtvā sa yāti paramāṃ gatim

Translation

凡人尽其一生，每日持诵一千零八遍圣名，守斋不食，专注归向于彼者，必得至上归趣——与主宰（Pati，湿婆）合一；彼为解脱缚魂（paśu）之救度者。

Word by Word

• yāvat-jīvam: as long as one lives

• japet: should repeat/chant

• nityam: daily/constantly

• aṣṭottara-sahasrakam: the set of 1008 (names/mantras)

• anaśnan: not eating, fasting

• tat-paraḥ: wholly devoted to That (Śiva)

• bhūtvā: having become

• saḥ: he

• yāti: goes/attains

• paramām: highest/supreme

• gatim: state/goal (liberation).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents nāma-japa (1008-fold repetition) with vrata-like fasting and single-pointed devotion as a direct sādhana that culminates in paramā gati—showing that inner worship through Śiva’s Name is integral to Linga-centered devotion.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the Supreme Goal and liberator—because attaining “paramā gati” here means reaching Him who dissolves pasha (bondage) and grants the pashu (soul) freedom through grace accessed by devotion and japa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Daily aṣṭottara-sahasra (1008) nāma-japa combined with fasting (anaśana) and unwavering one-pointedness (tatparatā), aligning with Pāśupata-style discipline where devotion and austerity purify the pashu for Śiva’s grace.