Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
तस्माल्लब्ध्वाप्यलब्ध्वा वा वर्णधर्मं मयेरितम् । आश्रित्य मम भक्तश्चेत्स्वात्मनात्मानमुद्धरेत् । अलब्धलाभ एवैष कोटिकोटिगुणाधिकः । तस्मान्मे मुखतो लब्धं वर्णधर्मं समाचरेत्
tasmāllabdhvāpyalabdhvā vā varṇadharmaṃ mayeritam | āśritya mama bhaktaścetsvātmanātmānamuddharet | alabdhalābha evaiṣa koṭikoṭiguṇādhikaḥ | tasmānme mukhato labdhaṃ varṇadharmaṃ samācaret
অতএব, কেউ (লৌকিক) লাভ করুক বা না করুক, আমার উপদিষ্ট বর্ণধর্মের আশ্রয় নেওয়া উচিত। আমার ভক্ত যদি তা অবলম্বন করে আত্মার দ্বারা আত্মাকে উন্নীত করে, তবে সেই ‘অলব্ধে লাভ’ কোটি কোটি গুণে শ্রেষ্ঠ। তাই আমার মুখনিঃসৃত বর্ণধর্ম যথাযথভাবে পালন করুক।
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Emphasizes dharma as stabilizing discipline for the bound soul regardless of worldly success/failure; ‘alabdhalābha’ (contented non-grasping) is praised as spiritually superior.
Role: teaching
FAQs
Shiva teaches that true spiritual profit is not worldly acquisition but inner elevation: by taking refuge in dharma and devotion, the soul refines itself and moves toward liberation—this ‘gain without worldly gain’ surpasses all other merits.
It frames Saguna Shiva-bhakti as disciplined devotion: worship and surrender are meant to be supported by righteous conduct (varṇa-dharma), making Linga worship a complete path of purification rather than mere ritual for worldly results.
The practical takeaway is steady dharma-based living joined to Shiva-bhakti—regular worship, japa, and self-examination that ‘uplifts the self by the self’; the verse emphasizes inner transformation over seeking external gains.