Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
नैकाग्रं चेच्छिवे चित्तं किं कृतेनापि कर्मणा । एकाग्रमेव चेच्चित्तं किं कृतेनापि कर्मणा
naikāgraṃ cecchive cittaṃ kiṃ kṛtenāpi karmaṇā | ekāgrameva ceccittaṃ kiṃ kṛtenāpi karmaṇā
إن لم يكن القلب مُركَّزًا تركيزًا واحدًا في شيفا، فما نفع أيِّ عملٍ وإن أُنجِز؟ وإن كان القلب حقًّا مُركَّزًا تركيزًا واحدًا في شيفا، فأيُّ حاجةٍ إلى عملٍ أصلاً وإن فُعِل؟
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Naṭarāja
FAQs
It teaches that liberation-oriented worship depends primarily on ekāgratā—steady, single-pointed absorption in Śiva; without inner focus, external deeds become spiritually fruitless.
Linga-worship and saguna upāsanā are meant to gather the mind into one-pointed devotion; the verse emphasizes that the true offering is concentrated awareness in Śiva, with rituals serving that inner aim.
Prioritize dhyāna and japa that produce ekāgratā—especially Panchākṣarī mantra-japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—and let any pūjā, bhasma/Tripuṇḍra, or Rudrākṣa observance be supportive rather than merely mechanical.