Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
लक्षेण भजते कश्चिद्द्वितीये जातिसंभवः । तृतीये कामनालाभश्चतुर्थे तं प्रपश्यति
lakṣeṇa bhajate kaściddvitīye jātisaṃbhavaḥ | tṛtīye kāmanālābhaścaturthe taṃ prapaśyati
يعبدُه بعضُهم بمئةِ ألفٍ من التكرار أو القُرَب؛ وفي المرحلةِ الثانية ينالُ مولدًا كريمًا؛ وفي الثالثة تتحققُ المقاصدُ المرغوبة؛ وفي الرابعة يُبصرُه عيانًا، الربَّ شيفا.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Maps a graded sādhanā-krama: increasing japa yields progressively subtler fruits—from worldly uplift (good birth) to iṣṭa-siddhi and finally darśana—mirroring an inner pilgrimage from bhoga to mokṣa.
Type: mahamrityunjaya
FAQs
It presents a graded path of sādhana: sustained devotion first purifies karma (leading to auspicious birth), then grants regulated fulfillment of desires, and finally culminates in Śiva-sākṣātkāra (direct vision), pointing beyond benefits to realization of Pati (Śiva) as the highest goal.
The verse implies disciplined worship—commonly performed as liṅga-pūjā and mantra-japa to Saguna Śiva—where repetition and devotion mature from seeking results to attaining darśana, the living encounter with the Lord worshipped in the liṅga.
A practical takeaway is mantra-japa in counted numbers (e.g., one lakh repetitions of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), supported by daily liṅga-pūjā, bhasma/tripuṇḍra, and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and purity.