Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 48
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
तपः कर्म जपो ध्यानं ज्ञानं वेत्यनुपूर्वशः । पञ्चधा कथ्यते सद्भिस्तदेव भजनं पुनः । अन्यात्मविदितं बाह्यमस्मदभ्यर्चनादिकम् । तदेव तु स्वसंवेद्यमाभ्यंतरमुदाहृतम्
tapaḥ karma japo dhyānaṃ jñānaṃ vetyanupūrvaśaḥ | pañcadhā kathyate sadbhistadeva bhajanaṃ punaḥ | anyātmaviditaṃ bāhyamasmadabhyarcanādikam | tadeva tu svasaṃvedyamābhyaṃtaramudāhṛtam
الزهدُ والتقشّف، والعملُ الطقسي، وتكرارُ المانترا، والتأمّل، والمعرفةُ الروحية—على الترتيب—يعلّمها الحكماءُ على أنها خمسةُ أوجه؛ وهذا بعينه يُسمّى «بهَجَن» أي العبادةُ المحبّة. وما يَعرفه الآخرون يُقال له خارجيّ—كعبادتنا وشعائرها—أمّا تلك العبادةُ نفسها إذا ذاقها المرءُ في باطنه ذوقًا مباشرًا فذلك هو الداخليّ المعلن.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It defines bhajana (devotion to Shiva) as a graded discipline—tapas, karma, japa, dhyana, and jnana—culminating in inward realization, not merely outward religiosity.
It affirms that external Linga-worship and rites are valid as “outer” devotion, but their fulfillment is “inner” devotion—direct inner experience of Shiva attained through japa, meditation, and knowledge.
It points to disciplined Shiva-upasana: begin with karma (puja/abhyarchana) supported by tapas, then stabilize japa (e.g., Panchakshara), deepen into dhyana, and mature into jnana as inward, self-evident realization.