Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
सद्यः प्रसन्नो भगवान्भवतीत्यनुसंश्रुतम् । भक्तप्रयासं स महान्न पश्यति दयापरः
sadyaḥ prasanno bhagavānbhavatītyanusaṃśrutam | bhaktaprayāsaṃ sa mahānna paśyati dayāparaḥ
وقد سُمِعَ في المأثور أنّ الربّ يرضى في الحال إذا كانت البهاكتي صادقة. ذلك العظيم، المفعم بالرحمة، لا يلتفت حتى إلى مشقّة عابده، بل ينظر إلى البهاكتي وحدها.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Affirms the Siddhāntic doctrine that Śiva’s grace (anugraha) is immediate when devotion is sincere; the Lord weighs bhakti rather than the devotee’s capacity or hardship.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) whose grace arises swiftly when devotion is genuine; He values inner surrender over outward strain, emphasizing that bhakti is the direct means to His prasāda and liberation-oriented blessing.
In Saguna worship—especially of the Śiva-liṅga—what pleases Śiva is heartfelt devotion and reverence, not the devotee’s physical hardship; the liṅga becomes the compassionate focus through which His immediate grace is received.
Practice simple, steady bhakti: offer water/bilva to the liṅga and repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with sincerity; the teaching implies that even modest rites, done with true devotion, draw Śiva’s quick compassion.