Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38
स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake
नाभक्तशिष्याय च नास्तिकेभ्यो दत्तं हि मोहान्निरयं ददाति । मार्गेण सेवानुगतेन यैस्तद्दत्तं गृहीतं पठितं श्रुतं वा
nābhaktaśiṣyāya ca nāstikebhyo dattaṃ hi mohānnirayaṃ dadāti | mārgeṇa sevānugatena yaistaddattaṃ gṛhītaṃ paṭhitaṃ śrutaṃ vā
لا ينبغي أن يُلقَّن هذا التعليم لتلميذٍ بلا إخلاصٍ تعبّدي، ولا للملحدين؛ فإن إعطاءه في غشاوة الوهم يفضي إلى الجحيم. أمّا الذين يسيرون على الطريق القويم ويتبعون خدمةً مخلصة، فيتلقّونه—قبولاً أو قراءةً أو حتى سماعاً—فهم أهلٌ لثمرته.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: This verse functions as an adhikāri-nirṇaya (eligibility rule) for transmitting Śaiva teaching; it is not tied to a specific liṅga-sthala narrative.
Significance: Emphasizes that śravaṇa/pāṭha of Śaiva doctrine bears fruit only when received through proper adhikāra (devotion, service, right method).
FAQs
It teaches that Shaiva wisdom is not merely information—it is a sacred transmission that bears fruit only in a qualified heart marked by bhakti and disciplined receptivity; careless sharing from delusion leads to spiritual downfall.
Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upasana require shraddha, purity of intent, and obedient practice under right guidance; the verse emphasizes that hearing/reciting about Shiva becomes fruitful when joined to seva and the proper path.
The takeaway is disciplined śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation) under a devoted, service-oriented attitude (seva) toward Shiva and the guru—rather than casual or skeptical engagement.