Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
न तां गतिमवाप्नोति सर्वैरपि महामखैः । द्विजानां वेदविदुषां कोटिं संपूज्य यत्फलम्
na tāṃ gatimavāpnoti sarvairapi mahāmakhaiḥ | dvijānāṃ vedaviduṣāṃ koṭiṃ saṃpūjya yatphalam
تلك المنزلة العُليا لا تُنال ولو بإقامة جميع القرابين العظمى؛ ولا تُنال كذلك بثواب تكريم عشرة ملايين من ذوي الولادتين، العارفين بالڤيدا، تكريماً وافراً.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that the highest liberation (the supreme gati) is not a product of karma-based merit—however vast—such as grand yajñas or honoring countless Vedic scholars; it points toward Shiva-centered liberation that transcends ritual results.
By contrasting ritual merit with the ‘supreme state,’ the verse supports the Purana’s emphasis that direct devotion and surrender to Lord Shiva—often expressed through Linga worship—leads beyond the finite fruits of Vedic rites to the highest spiritual attainment.
The implied takeaway is to prioritize Shiva-bhakti and inner contemplation (japa and dhyāna) over mere accumulation of ritual merit—especially practices like Panchakshara mantra-japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") as a direct means toward liberation.