Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12
कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara
ब्रह्मोवाच । अस्य भक्तिमविज्ञाय प्राग्वृत्तं ते निवेदितम् । भक्तिश्चेदस्य किं पापैर्न ते भक्तः प्रणश्यति
brahmovāca | asya bhaktimavijñāya prāgvṛttaṃ te niveditam | bhaktiścedasya kiṃ pāpairna te bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati
ব্রহ্মা বললেন—তার ভক্তি না জেনে আমি পূর্ববৃত্তান্ত আপনাকে জানিয়েছি। কিন্তু যদি তার ভক্তি থাকে, তবে পাপ কী করতে পারে? আপনার ভক্ত বিনষ্ট হয় না।
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It asserts that genuine devotion (bhakti) to Pati (Shiva) is spiritually decisive: sins cannot ultimately destroy the devotee because Shiva’s grace preserves and uplifts the bhakta toward liberation.
Linga/Saguna worship is a concrete expression of bhakti; the verse emphasizes that when devotion is real, external accusations or past faults lose their power—Shiva safeguards His devotee who approaches Him with faith.
Strengthen daily bhakti through Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara), simple Linga-puja with water and bilva, and repentance with renewed surrender—treating devotion as the primary antidote to papa.