Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36
भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा
Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion
महिमा शांकरोनंतो दुर्विज्ञेयो मनीषिभिः । भक्तज्ञातश्च सद्भक्त्या तत्प्रसादाद्विना श्रमम्
mahimā śāṃkaronaṃto durvijñeyo manīṣibhiḥ | bhaktajñātaśca sadbhaktyā tatprasādādvinā śramam
إن مجدَ شانكرا (Śaṅkara) لا نهاية له، ويعسر إدراكه حتى على الحكماء. لكنه يُعرَف للعبّاد ببهكتي صادقة؛ وبفضله يُنال إدراكه بلا عناء ولا كلفة.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Establishes the Siddhāntic principle that Śiva is ultimately known not by mere intellectual effort but by bhakti ripened into grace (anugraha), which is the inner ‘tīrtha’ accessible everywhere.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva’s nature and greatness are limitless and not fully grasped by intellect alone; realization arises through sadbhakti, and is completed by Śiva’s prasāda (grace), aligning with Shaiva emphasis on grace as the decisive factor for liberation.
The verse supports Saguna worship as a practical doorway: through loving devotion to Śiva in accessible forms—such as the Liṅga—one receives His grace, by which the infinite (beyond concepts) becomes personally known.
Cultivate sadbhakti through daily Śiva-pūjā and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), offering water/bilva to the Liṅga with humility, focusing on surrender so that realization comes by prasāda rather than mere effort.